clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

FC Dallas Settles For Tie Against Union

With three road games approaching, a struggling FCD team could only get a draw against Philly at home.

May 19, 2012; Frisco, TX, USA; FC Dallas midfielder Bryan Leyva (21) and Philadelphia Union defender Sheanon Williams (25) fight for the ball during the first half at FC Dallas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE
May 19, 2012; Frisco, TX, USA; FC Dallas midfielder Bryan Leyva (21) and Philadelphia Union defender Sheanon Williams (25) fight for the ball during the first half at FC Dallas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

The winless streak for FC Dallas has grown to seven.

It wasn't far into the game when FC Dallas scored their first goal. Andrew Jacobson won a corner kick within the first five minutes and on the ensuing set piece, Brian Leyva sent a ball into the box that found Blas Perez who headed it in to give the Hoops the lead.

The rest of the first half saw FC Dallas control much of the run of play and register six shots on goal. The score could have easily gone up 2-0 if not for some back luck.

Late in the first half, Michael Lahoud slid into a hard challenge against Hernan Pertuz, attempting to dispossess him near the Dallas goal, and instead caught most of Pertuz's ankle. Pertuz rolled around in pain while the Union continued their attack. No foul was called and Lahoud, who was already warned and sitting on a yellow card, was allowed to stay on the field. Multiple replays showed a tackle that nine times out of ten would be carded, but the referee didn't see anything to be worried about and as the first half whistle blew, FCD found itself up a goal but down a man.

There were many positives throughout the first half. Brian Leyva recorded his first first-team assist, Blas Perez continued scoring and Dallas played with great patience. Dallas' midfield looked more like the stifling force from 2010 and most of 2011, and the Toros went into the locker room with a one goal halftime lead.

Then the defensive lapses and the that have undone many of FC Dallas' efforts this season reared their head again.

Not far into the second half Gabriel Gomez headed a goal past Kevin Hartman, the result of a mad scramble inside the Dallas area, and, just as quickly as Dallas scored in the first half, the Union found themselves level with FCD. Head Coach Schellas Hyndman had this to say about the draw:

"I think one key point was when [Hernan] Pertuz got hurt. I think it changed our defense. We weren't as strong in the air and we weren't as strong marking-wise"

While both teams created chances, the game ended a scoreless tie.

FC Dallas' next three games are on the road, and losing the win at FC Dallas Stadium hurts in more ways than one. It's time for some of the Toros' leaders to dig deep and find ways to win where they have been so poor this year: On the road.

Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.