Toronto FC fans have hope despite loss of De Rosario

TORONTO - There was no shortage of hope for the future by Toronto FC fans after the team traded away their star player.

The club moved captain Dwayne De Rosario to New York for two players and a draft pick Friday.

The 32-year-old Toronto native scored 27 goals in 53 career games with the MLS team but his relationship soured last season after the team declined to renegotiate his contract.

His presence was hardly missed at BMO Field ahead of Toronto's game against Chivas USA.

Fans flew no flags or held no signs with DeRo's name on it.

Instead there was gratitude among supporters for De Rosario's time with the club but also a feeling of optimism about the latest step in Toronto's rebuild.

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  Toronto FC'a Dwayne De Rosario, left, battles for the ball against Real Salt Lake's Nat Borchers, right, during second-half MLS soccer action in Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)