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MLS FC Dallas

FCD's playoff hopes stymied by Seattle rally

October 25, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


SEATTLE -- FC Dallas almost did their job on Saturday in Seattle. But the hottest MLS team at the end of 2009 wasn't able to close the deal and now must wait until next season to entertain any playoff thoughts. Brad Evans' left-footed flick from a tough angle on the left on a pass from Freddie Ljungberg in the 84th minute lifted Seattle Sounders FC to a 2-1 win Saturday in front of a club-record crowd of 33,108 at Qwest Field, ending FCD's playoff hopes.

FC Dallas (11-13-6, 39 points) had their chances to nail down a spot among the eight playoff qualifiers, but two quality scores propelled playoff-bound Seattle (12-7-11, 47). Sounders FC are the first expansion team since 1998 to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs.

After Atiba Harris put FCD into the lead in the first half, they held Sounders FC off until they tied the match at 1-1 in the 62nd minute with a combination of passes leading to a Nate Jaqua goal -- and then it looked like it might end that way.

But Evans snuck the tough-angle shot into the net in the 84th minute for the Seattle victory.

FC Dallas entered on a four-match win streak, and also had won two of its last three matches on the road. They missed a chance at tying Columbus and Houston for the longest win streak of the 2009 MLS season at five games.

The Red Stripes went ahead 1-0 in the 14th minute on Harris' 23-yard scorcher into the left corner of the net from just outside the top right side of the box. Harris dribbled twice and found a seam between Seattle defenders after a pass near midfield from Daniel Hernandez.

Seattle threatened in the third minute as Jaqua had a 1-on-1 situation with FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala after Ljungberg pass, but Jaqua's pass attempt was cleared away by defender Ugo Ihemelu.

Heath Pearce was issued a yellow card in the 27th minute for a hard tackle on Seattle's Steve Zakuani, but the following free kick resulted in Ljungberg's cross and Jaqua's header sailing over the crossbar.

FCD defender George John, a Seattle native who played collegiately at the University of Washington, left the field with a left ankle injury after attempting a sliding tackle on Ljungberg in the 33rd minute. John was replaced by Kyle Davies in the 40th minute.

Sala made a juggling save on a Tyrone Marshall header at the left post in the 42nd minute to preserve FCD's 1-0 lead. Marshall's shot came off a corner kick from Ljungberg.

After the break, FC Dallas continued to doggedly hold onto their slim advantage. Sala came up with a save in the 54th minute, blocking a free kick by Osvaldo Alonso from just outside the penalty area.

But Sounders FC finally broke through to knot the score at 1-1 in the 62nd minute when Jaqua tapped in a point-blank shot off a beautiful sequence of passes. Freddie Ljungberg sent in a looping ball to the far right post where Fredy Montero guided it across to Jaqua.

Sala again stepped up with block in the 63rd minute as Jaqua blasted toward the middle of the net and then Montero fired the rebound into the side of the net. Then, Sala turned back a free kick of 22 yards from the top left by knocking down and gathering in Montero's attempt.

By then, FC Dallas knew it had to win to qualify for the postseason. But Evans scored the goal which officially ended FCD's late-season run.

However, in all likelihood -- unless Guillermo Barros Schelotto has a five-goal outburst on Sunday for Columbus, FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham will take Golden Boot honors with 17 goals in the regular season.

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