FC Dallas Ties L.A.
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CARSON, CA – Despite surrendering a late goal, FC Dallas secured its first points away from home this season in an exciting 1-1 draw with the L.A. Galaxy at the Home Depot Center.
FC Dallas came out of the locker room on fire, earning two chances to go ahead in just the first minute. Fabian Castillo created the first opportunity after collecting the ball at the top of the area and running at two defenders. Castillo was sandwiched by two L.A. defenders on the play, but the loose ball found Shea at the back post. Shea took a touch before hammering a shot from seven yards out, but unfortunately for Dallas, his attempt missed the crossbar by a few inches.
Still in the first minute of play, Dallas pressured the ensuing goal kick and forced a turnover deep in L.A. Galaxy territory. Blas Perez took control of the ball, drew the defender and slipped a pass inside for Castillo to finish, but the young Colombian’s first-touch strike went just wide of the right post behind Galaxy goalkeeper Bill Gaudette.
Near the 10th minute, L.A. took its turn at offense. Landon Donovan applied pressure deep in Dallas’ defensive third of the field and gained possession of the ball at the top of the box. Running at FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz, Donovan fought through a sliding challenge from Jair Benitez, cut right around the goalkeeper and was facing an empty net, but the resulting shot cracked the outside of the near post and went out for a goal kick, keeping the match scoreless.
Seitz came up huge for FC Dallas in the 42nd minute and 43rd minutes. The first save
denied Robbie Keane of a spinning half-volley goal six yards away from goal. The second was better. Following an L.A. Galaxy corner kick, the ball was shot back across the area to Donovan at the far post. The goal celebration music at the Home Depot Center began to play, but somehow Seitz had come post-to-post to smother Donovan’s redirection before it crossed the line. The music stopped seconds later. The half ended shortly after.
Just two minutes into the second half, the L.A. Galaxy were awarded a penalty kick after David Beckham played a bending ball to the top right corner of the area that sat up perfectly for Donovan. After touching the ball in on goal, Donovan crashed to the ground after colliding with Benitez, forcing referee Ricardo Salazar to point to the spot. Keane opted to take the free kick. Seitz went right. Keane went left, too far left, missing the post and keeping the match scoreless yet again.
The non-stop action continued 50th minute when Gaudette robbed Perez of a header, 10 minutes to the second before FC Dallas earned a penalty kick of its own. The play began with a cross from Benitez to Perez at the back post. Perez won the ball in the air, knocking it to himself at the opposite post, where he was fouled by Gaudette before he could reach the ball. Shea took the penalty kick for Dallas, striking a low, hard shot to the left side-netting for a 1-0 lead.
The one-goal advantage lasted until the second minute of stoppage-time when a ball played into the area from the left flank was won by Chad Barrett in the center of the six-yard box. With his back to goal, Barrett knocked a pass back out to the top of the area for Pat Noonan. The veteran forward made no mistake, picking out the far side-netting to level the score, 1-1.
