By Will Martin
Sunday May 4th in Frisco was an afternoon better suited for playing in a pool or barbecuing near someplace with plenty of shade. FC Dallas came into May fully aware of the rough stretch of games that awaited them. This home game only one of the three over the next seven weeks. Not playing into FC Dallas’ favor was being banged up with injuries.
Mauro Diaz still on the mend while for the second week in a row FC Dallas would fall into the one man short scenario when JeVaughn Watson went DeJuan Blair with his cleats into Tim Cahill.
Passing and accuracy rating favored the Red Hot Red Bulls 381-304, 83% to 75 %. Corner kicks were even at six apiece while FC Dallas got whistled for 14 fouls compared to 13 for the Red Bulls (3-2-5 14 point) FC Dallas had the shots on goal advantage 11 to 9. To New York’s credit goalie Luis Robles would effectively block five shots as the Red Bulls would break through in the 90 degree heat in the 71st minute of the match.
Dax McCarty would set up Thierry Henry beautifully on a pass which would then get moved down the right flank before crossed over to Bradley-Wright Phillips for his 6th goal of the season to silence 17,105 baked FCD fans and sending the Red Bulls to their first road win of the season and a tie for 1st place in the Eastern Conference.
This marked the second straight loss for FC Dallas as they now fall to 5-3-1 16 points, 3rd in the Western Conference 1 point back of Real Salt Lake, three points back of Seattle.
Two games within the week in Seattle May 7th at 9:30 CST with the 1st place Sounders. Follow that with a late game May 10th in San Jose Earthquakes country. Also a 9:30 start time in the midwest before a return home on May 17th to battle Chivas USA in Frisco.
Here’s what Oscar Pareja had to say after the 1-0 defeat at home to the Red Bulls and what he hopes to see improve next week with two games in hand.
Despite a two game skid once the whole team returns to full health you can expect better fates as we get into the hotter months here in North Texas. For now let’s hope for at least a draw in the next week before Chivas USA makes its return back to Frisco. One can only hope that Clint Dempsey and Kenny Cooper have an off night May 7th inside the loudness they call CenturyLink Field.
Upcoming Schedule
5/7 @Seattle 9:00 p.m.
5/10 @San Jose 9:30 p.m.