MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Earns Point with 1-1 Draw against Philadelphia Union

Published on May 19, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas drew the Philadelphia Union, 1-1, tonight at FC Dallas Stadium. Dallas' goal was scored by Blas Perez, who collected his fourth goal of the season.

FC Dallas got on the board in the seventh minute off a corner kick taken by Homegrown player Bryan Leyva. The 20-year-old midfielder swung a ball into the middle of the area, where George John stepped in front of his defender to knock a header to the back post. Perez locked onto the pass, launching himself at the bouncing ball and powering a header past Philadelphia goalkeeper Chase Harrison. The shot slipped just inside the front post, giving Dallas a 1-0 lead early.

The FC Dallas defense took over after the goal, holding Philadelphia without a shot for the remainder of the first half. It was the first time this season the Union were held without a shot in the first 45 minutes of a match.

Unfortunately, an already depleted FC Dallas side did not escape the first half unscathed. The team suffered yet another injury near the end of the half when right back Hernan Pertuz was stretchered off the field in the 45th minute following a challenge with Philadelphia's Michael Lahoud. Carlos Rodriguez, who was making his return from an elbow injury suffered against Real Salt Lake, replaced Pertuz at right back for the remainder of the match.

Philadelphia netted a goal to make it 1-1 in the 56th minute on its first shot of the match. The goal came following a long ball played in from midfield by Carlos Valdez. Attempting to win the ball, FC Dallas' Rodriguez inadvertently knocked the ball across the goalmouth to Philadelphia's Gabriel Gomez, who headed a ball past Kevin Hartman.

Hartman kept the game level with a big save on Philadelphia's Michael Farfan in the 73rd minute. Farfan collected the ball on the right flank, cut inside a defender near to the top right corner of the area and fired a shot high towards the post. Hartman made a diving left-handed save on the play, tipping the shot over the crossbar and out for a Philadelphia corner kick.

Philadelphia's Harrison kept pace with Hartman, making a great save of his own in the 82nd minute. The play began with a long cross played in from the left flank by Jair Benitez. Perez came free at the back post to hit a first-time volley, but Harrison denied the chance with a sprawling kick save at the front post.

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