Brazilian Maicon Santos, left, battled Brek Shea of Dallas on this play before scoring for Toronto FC on Saturday. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)

It appeared that Maicon Santos would enjoy a heroic first MLS goal for Toronto FC, but FC Dallas scored a late goal Saturday to salvage a 1-1 result.

The Brazilian forward, in just his third league game, took a pass from Julian de Guzman down the left side and beat the Dallas keeper with a low shot in the 61st minute.

Colombian Milton Rodriguez would reply for the visitors 16 minutes later. Dallas has lost just two of 16 matches this season (6-2-8).

Toronto is now 6-5-5 and remain in third place in the MLS East.

Much of the first half took place in a downpour, with conditions settling down a bit in the second.

De Guzman had the first strong chance for Toronto, sending a shot just wide right in the 11th minute.

Tipped over bar

Dwayne De Rosario unleashed a blistering shot in the 23rd minute on a free kick, with Hartman tipping it just over the bar.

Toronto keeper Stefan Frei was forceful 10 minutes later, punching a Dallas cross out of harm's way.

Chad Barrett had a sharp angle to work with in the 45th minute, but the slippery conditions made his shot from the left side more dangerous for Hartman than it otherwise would have been.

In addition to Santos, Toronto's another notable recent signing played. Spaniard Mista came into the game in the 56th minute.

Not long after, De Rosario took a Barrett cross and forced Hartman to swat the ball away with his hand. Santos could not get a followup attempt past a Dallas defender.

After Santos did score, Dallas had a chance to equalize but Rodriguez drew a yellow card for shouldering Frei to the ground on a cross.

Rodriguez would get his revenge in the 77th by beating Nana Attakora off a corner and heading the ball into the net. The corner was a result of a series of sloppy passes from the home side.

Attiba Harris very nearly put Dallas ahead several minutes later but his shot skidded wide.

Toronto plays on the road against the Kansas City Wizards on July 31 in their next MLS action. First, they play a CONCACAF Champions League qualifier at home against Honduran clug Deportivo Motagua on Tuesday.

Toronto is 1-3-3 in its history against Dallas. The clubs will play again on Sept. 4 in Texas.