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MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Falls 3-0 in First Leg of Western Conference Semifinal

October 31, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


SEATTLE, Washington- FC Dallas held Seattle scoreless for 49 minutes but then gave up three goals in a span of nine minutes to fall, 3-0, in front of 37,037 fans tonight at CenturyLink Field.

Dallas hosts Seattle in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinal next Sunday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m. CT. FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz came up with a huge save in just the fourth minute of the match after Jordan Morris came free on the left flank and centered a cross for Nelson Valdez. The pass got through Dallas' back three and hit the chest of Valdez, giving Seitz time to leap back across his line and smack the ball clear of the goal.

FCD controlled the ball and created one shot on goal, by Maynor Figueroa in the 20th minute, to relieve the pressure on its back line but Seattle nearly found the back of the net again in the 27th minute. Following the second of two corner kicks by Seattle's Nicolas Lodeiro, FCD defender Matt Hedges was called upon to clear two balls off the line in a matter of seconds.

Morris came free again for Seattle in the 36th minute. The U.S. National Team forward collected the ball and spun away from his marker at the top of the area before firing a shot low to Seitz's right side. Once again, Seitz was in position and able to make a diving save to keep the match even, 0-0.

Michael Barrios and Figueroa combined on the left flank to set up an opportunity for Ryan Hollingshead in the 45th minute. The left wing back accepted the pass from Barrios following a one-two and tried to pick out the far corner of the net but had his shot sail well over the crossbar.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead just after halftime when Joevin Jones crossed a ball to the back post for Valdez. The forward was well marked by Figueroa, but the pass from Jones was spot on, allowing Valdez to fight through the challenge and redirect the ball just inside the back post.

Five minutes later, Seattle made it 2-0, when Morris broke free on the left flank, drew the attention of Dallas' back line and slipped a pass through to the back post for Lodeiro. Lodeiro collected the ball at the back post and easily knocked the ball over the line.

Three minutes later, Lodeiro scored his second goal of the match following an FC Dallas corner kick. Frei made a save and rolled the ball to Jones, who quickly fired a pass up the left flank to Lodeiro. With most of Dallas' back line still backtracking from the corner kick opportunity, Lodeiro dribbled in on Seitz unchallenged. Seitz came off his line to cut down the angle but the No. 10 slipped a perfectly aimed pass under the goalkeeper to make it 3-0.

Scoring Summary: SEA - Nelson Valdez (Joevin Jones) 50 SEA - Nicolas Lodeiro (Jordan Morris) 55 SEA - Nicolas Lodeiro (Joevin Jones) 58

FC Dallas - Chris Seitz, Ryan Hollingshead, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman (Mauro Rosales 73), Maynor Figueroa, Atiba Harris, Carlos Gruezo, Kellyn Acosta, Victor Ulloa (Tesho Akindele 66), Michael Barrios, Maxi Urruti (Carlos Ruiz 90). Substitutes Not Used: Jesse Gonzalez, Aubrey David, Norberto Paparatto, Juan Esteban Ortiz.

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei, Chad Marshall, Zach Scott, Joevin Jones (Oneil Fisher 83), Tyrone Mears, Cristian Roldan, Nicolas Lodeiro, Asvaldo Olonso (Brad Evans 79), Erik Friberg, Jordan Morris, Nelson Valdez (Herculez Gomez 56).

Substitutes Not Used: Tyler Miller, Michael Farfan, Tony Alfaro, Aaron Kovar.

Misconduct Summary: DAL - Maynor Figueroa (caution) 85

Referee: Ricardo Salazar AR1 (bench): Chris Strickland; AR2 (opposite): Danny Thornberry; 4th: Fotis Bazakos Weather: Rain, 51 Attendance: 37,037

FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja

Thoughts on the match...

The result is obviously tough but I have to keep the optimism for a group that has overcome a lot already this year. We will keep fighting.

On Seattle...

Seattle was very sharp in the first 20 minutes of the second half. We allowed them to get into those spaces and score those goals without reacting. They were much better, especially in that period of the game.

On Dallas' reaction to the first goal...

The first goal took us by surprise. We had the game controlled. We did not expect for the game to become unbalanced just by that play. We had center backs in the box... We were neutralizing crosses in the first half. After that goal, I thought we should have been more mature. We should have had more composure on the field and not have let them score the second one. We should have been much better.

On the second leg...

There is no tomorrow. We overcame a difficult result here last year. We will try and do the same. This team has shown an ability to overcome difficult situations this year so why not this one?

FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Rosales

What can you take away from this match?

This game is over. There is nothing we can do about it now. We'll try and prepare for the next game as well as possible. It's 90 minutes. If they can score three goals then we can do it as well. It's going to be tough. It's going to be a difficult game in Dallas. Obviously, 3-0, is a tough result to come back from but we have done a lot of coming back this year already.

FC Dallas midfielder Victor Ulloa

We had a good first half. We wanted to take that intensity... We held them scoreless in the first half. We wanted to continue that in the second but it was tough. It was tough giving up three goals in about 10 minutes. It hurts. It is a hard one to swallow but we have another chance on Sunday so we have to move on and get ready.

We've been able to come back once or twice already this year. We have proven that we can do it. We have to flip the page and take this result and show a lot of responsibility and a lot of character. We like to prove people wrong. We like to overcome. We have had some great accomplishments this year. We have one more game. Win or go home.

Next FC Dallas home playoff game, presented by Toyota, is Sunday, November 6th vs Seattle Sounders at Toyota Stadium. Purchase your tickets at www.fcdallas.com.

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