By Will Martin
Ever so rare is the back to back match-up with two same opponents in the MLS yet this was the case Saturday night at BC Palace and a crowd of almost 20,000 strong.
The team of FC Dallas (6-1-1) came northwest fresh off a 2-0 shutout of the Whitecaps on April 20th.
Attempts at winning for a seventh straight week came up a little short with a good hop and the bad luck of a good (arm) swing.
In reviewing what has been a successful endeavor for the FCD on the win side: Having the set pieces. Schellas Hyndman explains, “We’ve got the servers and we’ve got the big players that are courageous and go in and attack the ball,” said Hyndman. “I’m surprised that we’ve scored five goals of thirteen off of set pieces…but you also work hard and you hope for it.”
With Michel or David Ferreira handling the oncoming corner kick before the area of the goal it is also tantamount to understand the difference between an in-swinger versus an out-swinger.
“One advantage of an in-swinger is it’s going right at the ‘keeper and if there’s any mix-up (and we’ve seen this many times), the balls go in by themselves,” Hyndman pointed out.
“An out-swinger will never go in the goal. Another advantage of an in-swinger is when people are hitting the ball, the ball is already going in that direction and it’s easier to get on top of it.”
The above mentioned has been one of many reasons why FC Dallas possesses the best record in the MLS.
On Saturday FC Dallas would strike quickly after 9 minutes on a Kenny Cooper header that was off the mark and bounced off Andy O’Brien for an early 1-0. Again Raul Fernandez allowed nothing to touch goal in the 1st half. Not one goal by the FCD allowed in the first half in 2013!
The lead would increase to 2-0 in the 47th minute after Matt Hedges would redirect a head shot from Brad Rusin that was erratic following a Michel corner kick. There the score would remain for 25 minutes.
18 year old sub Kekuta Manneh would find the net inside the near post after a moment of heavy passing went for naught for the Whitecaps. It was Manneh’s first of the season. Three minutes later Manneh would feed Camilo for a game tying shot and allow for this rematch from one week ago to end in a 2-2 draw.
Any chance at getting another win for FC Dallas was placed in doubt when Alain Rochat was tugging on Jackson’s jersey while trying to get to the ball. Jackson would swing in frustration, earn a red card. FC Dallas would finish the game down a man.
With the tie FC Dallas gains another point to improve to 6-1-2. Vancouver falls to 2-3-3. With 20 points FC Dallas has a six point cushion over the L.A. Galaxy, seven over Portland, and nine apiece on Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA.
Beginning May 8th they will play two games in four days, both at home beginning with the Portland Timbers and the 11th with DC United. The Portland game will be an 8pm start in Frisco. 7:30 pm on the 11th.
Dallas til I die. 1st place still healthy and running on high.