By Will Martin
The 2013 MLS Season is quickly winding down and each game is a must win for Schellas Hyndman and his team of FC Dallas.
For those not keeping score it back on May 25th when last FC Dallas enjoyed a home win.
The three month wait would end Saturday night against the Vancouver Whitecaps (10-10-7 37 points 7th West). The start of the game was anything but atypical.
For only the third time in 2013 FC Dallas allowed a score to happen within the first 15 minutes of play. Vancouver took all of four minutes to get on the board first courtesy of back to back passes from Camilo to Kenny Miller on the right side.
Miller proceeded to rifle a crossing pass to mid-striker Daigo Kobayashi who would rattle a shot past Chris Seitz for an early 1-0 Whitecap lead.
That lead would last all of six minutes. One bad trend that has hampered Vancouver all season has been it’s inability to hang onto to early leads. This would work in FC Dallas’ favor when Fabian Castillo would set up Je-Vaughn Watson outside the box for a 20 yard equalizer from the right foot to knot things up at 1 apiece past goalie David Ousted. The 9th time the Whitecaps allowed a score within the first 15 minutes of play in 2013.
The score would remain at 1-1 until the 87th when-true to FC Dallas form this season-Fabian Castillo pounded another pivotal crossing pass to Mauro Diaz-in as a substitute-who would proceed to blast a goal past Ousted for a 2-1 lead. The goal was such that you might utter the phrase, ‘Sportcenter worthy’.
Fast forward to the 89th minute for a play that will live on in infamy. As frustrating a game as FC Dallas experienced back on August 11th when a Jackson shot would bang against the post and not go in for a 4-3 win over the L.A. Galaxy this night would produce a play that you’ll need to see to believe.
Mauro Diaz began the sequence with a pass to defender Jair Benitez. Strolling to about the mid-field stripe out of the corner of Benitez’ eye was an out of position David Ousted at goal. Like a receiver who tries to do a button hook pattern only not to curl in. Ousted was yards out of his normal position.
In that sequence Benitez blasted a shot from 50 yards out that just got over the outstretched arms of an out-of position Ousted but also landed inside the mid-post for a third goal. A collective roar shot out of the Frisco faithful in attendance as Team Schellas finally collected three points to improve to 10-7-10 for the season and only two points out of the playoff picture in 6th place.
Marty Turco had the honor of scarfing the Lamar Hunt trophy pre-game. As hot as the weather was thoughts of ice and pads sounded good. It’s now onto the road for FC Dallas in Colorado Saturday the 14th followed by the New York Red Bulls the following week before a September 29th matchup with the Columbus Crew.
Back in July 2004 I saw the Crew and Dallas play to a 0-0 tie inside the Cotton Bowl while Jessica Simpson was performing at the Smirnoff Music Centre across the way. Man, time sure flies! A Jason Kreis poster was also being given out that evening one decade ago.
Congratulations to the FCD for an exciting home win over Vancouver. May the winning ways continue for the guys. October 19th is right around the corner and a playoff run would be great to witness. Equally noteworthy were the number of players who went the full 90 minutes including Kellyn Acosta, George John, Chris Seitz, Erick, David Fereirra, Andrew Jacobsen, Fabian Castillo, and Matt Hedges.
Dallas Til I Die. September 10th a new naming rights partner shall be named for the arena formerly known as Pizza Hut Park. Might it be Advocare Arena? Just a wild guess.
