By Will Martin
As spring would rotate into summer suffice to say the team of FC Dallas will be happy that the month of June has now come and gone.
A brutal six game stretch of play in 29 days with the addition of U.S. Open Cup qualifying (a win over the Dynamo and a defeat to the Timbers).
In going 0-1-3 the stretch made for a very banged up, injury-depleted and undermanned group for coach Schellas Hyndman.
Perhaps best summed up after the 2-2 game played here in Frisco back on June 22nd against Sporting KC and again June 29th after the Union-busting.
‘This is not an easy place to come and play. Every coach in the league will tell you that, and to take a point at that. We thought we played good enough to score but we just didn’t connect. We knew it was going to be a quick breakout from one of their guys and coming from a heartbreaker with Portland to playing this game with injured guys and heavy legs it shows that we have character and we got to keep building on that. June wasn’t a great month for us but June has probably shown us our best character’ Hyndman said.
The lone loss happened in Portland, one of the hottest teams in the MLS. Undefeated since March and even tougher to defeat at home. FC Dallas would provide their best efforts despite losing 1-0. We documented the late game heroics from last week after falling into a 2-0 deficit with Sporting KC. Two dramatic goals by Walker Zimmerman and Andrew Jacobson in the 90th minute.
More of the same in Philadelphia on June 29th as the Union tried to accrue their first ever win over FC Dallas. Sheanon Williams would provide the feeders (a throw in and a pass) to Amobi Okugo and to striker Aaron Wheeler in the 20th and 87th minutes for what looked to be a sure 2-1 victory.
FC Dallas for the second straight week played short-handed with Je-Vaughn Watson sent away in the 68th minute with his second yellow card. Ten yellow cards assessed in Saturday’s game.
However, if you have followed FC Dallas in 2013 one comes to expect the unexpected at the very end of regulation it seems. Using the term ‘Cardiac Unit From Frisco’ you are more than justified.
In the 23rd minute Walker Zimmerman-seeing ample play time due to injuries to George John (hamstring) and Zach Lloyd (groin)-would nail a header to put FC Dallas on the board after a free kick by Michel. Game knotted up at 1.
The Union went up 2-1 in the 87th minute and what appeared to be a game tying goal moments later went uncalled. Enter Blas Perez to provide magic in stoppage time for a 3rd draw for the month of June 2-2. The Union still have yet to defeat FC Dallas in their history.
As June turns to July there’s no rest for the weary…yet. Independence Day will feature an 8pm start time with cellar dwelling Chivas USA before a visit to Los Angeles and the L.A. Galaxy on Sunday. This shall mark the next to last two-match week FC Dallas must contend with for the remainder of the season.
June began with a sizable lead in 1st place. Currently Team Schellas sits in 2nd place (8-3-6 30 points) three points behind Real Salt Lake (10-5-3 33 points). Had three ties ended up in victory FC Dallas could have had a wide lead in the West. Alas that is not the case.
Some stats from the 2-2 draw with the Philadelphia Union:
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Jack McInerney 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (three players tied with one); FOULS: 13 (Brian Carroll 3); OFFSIDES: 4 (four players tied with one); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Sebastian Le Toux 4); SAVES: 3 (Zac MacMath 3).
Misconduct Summary
DAL – Fabian Castillo (caution) 2
DAL – Jackson (caution) 37
DAL – Je-Vaughn Watson (caution) 45+1
PHL – Brian Carroll (caution) 55
DAL – Je-Vaughn Watson (caution) 68
DAL – Je-Vaughn Watson (ejection) 68
PHL – Conor Casey (caution) 76
PHL – Antoine Hoppenot (caution) 78
DAL – Blas Perez (caution) 90+5
PHL – Chris Albright (caution) 90+6
Referee: Allen Chapman
Referee’s Assistants: Adam Wienckowski, Matthew Kreitzer
4th Official: Daniel Radford
Attendance: 18,212
Time of Game: 1:56
Weather: Sunny, 88 degrees.
