TORONTO - Giles Barnes' first-half goal, coupled with goalie Tyler Deric's heroics, gave the Houston Dynamo a nervy 1-0 MLS win over Toronto FC on Wednesday that could well derail Toronto's playoff hopes.
The Dynamo were reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute and had to survive a penalty as the 26-year-old Deric, in for the injured Tally Hall, put on a show. The visitors also had to endure seven minutes stoppage time after an action-packed second half.
The dropped three points were crucial for Toronto (11-13-7), which could have moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference with the win. Instead Houston (11-14-6) joined Philadelphia within one point of sixth-place Toronto.
The Houston game represented Toronto's game in hand on the five teams ahead of it in the Eastern Conference. Toronto has three games left -- away to the New York Red Bulls, home to the Montreal Impact and away to the New England Revolution.
On Tuesday, Toronto coach Greg Vanney estimated seven points might get his team into the playoffs, with a target of nine points. Now there are just nine left on the table.
Toronto, which entered the league in 2007, has never qualified for the post-season. But TFC has already set single-season franchise records for wins and points this season.
