FC Dallas falls 2-1 to U.S. Under-23 National Team
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FRISCO, Texas (Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012) – FC Dallas dropped a 2-1 decision to the U.S. Under-23 National Team today on the adidas Field at FC Dallas Stadium. FC Dallas winger Brek Shea, who was called into national team duty over the weekend, scored the game-winner for Caleb Porter’s side in the 51st minute.
FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman had a stellar day in goal for the home side. He began by denying the U.S. U-23s of a goal with a point-blank save in the 12th minute. On the play, Amobi Okugo collected the ball in central midfield and played a ball over the top to Juan Agudelo. With FC Dallas center back Hernan Purtuz on his back, Agudelo chested the ball out in front of him and was in alone on Hartman. Agudelo opted to take a hard shot at the back post, but Hartman punched the shot away to keep the match scoreless.
Dallas battled back and earned a corner kick in the 15th minute. Colombian forward Fabian Castillo took the kick, lining a cross to the center of the six-yard box, where Andrew Jacobson beat his defender to the ball and nodded a hard finish into the back of the net to give FC Dallas a 1-0 advantage.
The U.S. U-23s found an equalizer just four minutes later on a corner kick taken by Freddy Adu. An exact copy of Jacobson’s goal, Adu picked out Ike Opara at the top of the box and the defender headed a shot to the back post to level the score, 1-1.
FC Dallas got a boost in the 36th minute when FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman brought on 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira for the first time since he suffered a season-ending injury on April 23, 2011. Unfortunately for Dallas, the substitution came after Shea, playing for the U.S. U-23s, earned his team a penalty kick after coming together with Hartman at the top of the box.
Adu opted to take the kick, firing a waist-high blast to the right side, but Hartman guessed correctly and
parried the shot away only to have Adu fire another shot from three yards out. Quick to recover, Hartman made yet another outstanding save before the ball was ushered away from danger by defender Zach Loyd.
The U.S. U-23s came out strong following the half and got a goal in the 51st minute from Shea. Playing on the left flank, Shea timed his run well and beat the FC Dallas defense to a ball played over the top by Adu. In alone against Hartman, Shea cracked a hard shot high to the back post from 12-yards out to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead.
The U.S. went down a man in the 58th minute when Kofi Sarkodie was whistled for his second caution after bringing down Fabian Castillo at the top of the box. The breakout was started by Ferriera, who collected the ball in the center of the pitch before lobbing a perfectly-weighted pass into space for Castillo.
The U-23s lost yet another man in the 75th minute when Shea was shown his second yellow after coming together with FC Dallas trialist Daniel Osorno. The advantage gave Dallas a distinct advantage in possession as the home side pushed for a late equalizer.
But FC Dallas was unable to break down an organized U.S. back line. The closest the home team came to a tying goal were a pair of free kicks from the top of the area in the 83rd and 85th minutes. Bobby Warshaw took the first. He hammered a rising shot on goal, but Sean Johnson read it well and tipped the ball over the crossbar. Perez took the second. He hit a bending shot which just shaved the outside of the right post.
