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MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas falls, 2-1, to San Jose Earthquakes

June 1, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas "" Forced to play a man down for the sixth time in 15 matches this season, FC Dallas (5-7-3, 18 points) dropped a 2-1 decision to the San Jose Earthquakes (4-4-4, 16 points) in front of 15,682 fans tonight at Toyota Stadium.

FC Dallas forward Blas Perez netted the lone goal for the home team in the 16th minute. His fourth goal of the season and 24th for FC Dallas since 2012, moved the Panamanian into a four-way tie with David Ferreira, Dante Washington and Eddie Johnson for ninth all-time in FC Dallas history.

But it was the FC Dallas defense that was forced into action in the 10th minute when San Jose forward Steven Lenhart came free in the area. Goalkeeper Chris Seitz came charging off his line to make a sliding block to deny the shot but the ball fell to the Earthquakes' No. 10, Yannick Djalo, at the top of the area. With his back to goal, Djalo chipped a ball back into the area for Lenhart. The 6-1 forward went up and won the header, snapping a hard shot on goal, but FC Dallas captain Matt Hedges was on the goal line to deny Lenhart of a goal with a header of his own.

Just six minutes later, FC Dallas was able to take a 1-0 lead when a ball crossed in from the left flank took a high bounce over the head of an Earthquake defender at the back post. Winger Fabian Castillo was able to track down the ball on the right side and immediately send it back into the area. Perez met the cross with a left-footed first touch volley that rocketed into the top corner of the net, giving Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch no chance to make a save on the play.

San Jose leveled the match, 1-1, in the 27th minute on a goal scored by former FC Dallas midfielder Atiba Harris. The goal started with an Earthquakes corner kick that was chested down in the area by Lenhart and slid inside to Harris, who knocked a simple low pass just inside the post to Seitz's left side.

The game got more difficult for FC Dallas in the 37th minute when Adam Moffat was shown his second yellow card of the match, and was ejected, after bringing down Djalo at the top of the box.

San Jose took a 2-1 lead in the 45th minute on the strength of a 32-yard bomb off the foot of midfielder Jean Baptiste-Pierazzi.

FC Dallas came storming back via some quality footwork from Castillo, which earned FC Dallas a penalty kick just before the halftime whistle, but the young Colombian was unable to convert the spot kick. Castillo attempted to slip a low shot by Busch, but the veteran came up with a huge diving save to keep the visitor's one-goal lead in tact heading into the break.

FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja made two changes at the half, brining on two veteran players in Peter Luccin and Jair Benitez in place of Moises Hernandez and goalscorer, Perez.

Luccin created an opening for FC Dallas in the 58th minute when he played a through ball forward for overlapping right back Zach Loyd. Loyd arrived just as the ball was about to cross the end line, chipping a dangerous ball to the back post, where Hedges rose above a pack of players to nod a shot on goal but just as he had denied Lenhart in the first half "" a San Jose defender was in position to block Hedges' attempt on goal and, once again, maintain the Earthquakes 2-1 lead.

Despite playing down a man, FC Dallas pushed the pace of play and nearly unlocked the Earthquakes' defense in the 71st minute. Benitez played a ball to 2014 MLS SuperDraft selection Tesho Akindele, who quickly pushed a short through ball forward to Castillo. The Colombian cut back and got off a rising line-drive shot, but Busch was in position to make the stop.

In the 85th minute, another strong combination between Castillo and Akindele led to a chance for Loyd from 17 yards out. Castillo incited the chance by beating his man on the right side and sending a low cross into the area that was collected by Akindele and played into the path of Loyd but the defender's strike was pushed wide of the left post by Busch, who made six saves to collect the 108th win of his MLS career.

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