Somehow what was an understandable 2-0 loss on the road to league-leading San Jose turned into a stomach-churning dropped point for FC Dallas late Wednesday night. Hyndman’s side could’ve found solace in a come from behind draw. Any team that is as strapped for results as FCD is would certainly understand (I’m looking at you, Portland). Sadly the side left Northern California with their pride wounded and confidence shattered by events on the field and just outside the lines.
Cards, three goals, a Baggio-esque skied penalty, a rally in the dying moments of the game: this was actually a back and forth match, especially early on, that was extremely entertaining (from the neutral perspective). At least we came to San Jose to provide some drama, if nothing else. A few thoughts:
- Much has been and will be made of Brek’s “bust up” with Hyndman after his substitution in second half. It’s not the first he’s had with the Gaffer, and it won’t be the last. He is young, full of talent, naiveté, and frustration. A substitution would only serve as a breaking point. Keep in mind that I agree with Hyndman’s substitution. Brek’s performance was in no way worthy of 90 minutes. They will resolve this and move on. Remnants of Brek’s discontent, without a gilded end to the season, may come back to bite the FCD front office, however. He is definitely unsettled and frustrated – the last time this really happened Brek demanded a trade or to be sold.
- Schellas cannot alienate Benitez, or any other player for that matter, like he did post match. When a player misses a penalty a resounding question that beckons from most mouths is “Why’d he take that?” It’s one thing to be disappointed in a player and inform him in private; it’s another to single him out in front of the press. Benitez’s year has been littered with moments of struggle, red cards, and yet the occasional match of stellar play. He’s a starter, and someone who will be relied upon for the rest of 2012. It’s a shortsighted remark by Hyndman that will have affects on Jair’s long-term performance. He’d been playing quite well since the return of Ferreira three games ago – this will be another setback for Benitez. Then again, Hyndman could have avoided controversy and let Jackson (someone who has actually scored this year) take the spot kick.
- De Guzman’s first appearance in Dallas red and white wasn’t as bad as many perceived. I will still plead for patience with De Guzman. A first outing with a new team only a week after being traded, and realistically out of first-team action for quite some time, will pinch a bit. He completed 31 of 39 passes on the night, a rate that was higher than even DF10 and the rest of Dallas’ starting midfield. His only struggle was turning as moving the ball across the field from the left to the right. Overall, a somewhat quiet but commendable performance for a first day on the job. Defensively speaking, if his work rate picks up and tackles in the midfield increase he’ll have a much more notable and positive impact on the match. The other alternative would have been to keep Hernandez in the starting XI. After the Colorado match he at least deserved to keep his starting spot – it was his best game in five matches. His positioning, pass completion, and ball winning was heads above anything in recent memory for the aging DCM. But if de Guzman, another center midfielder who’s on the wrong side of 30, is the man for the job for the remainder of 2012 let’s hope his play picks up…fast.
- Castillo’s immaturity reared its head again. Let’s be fair – Beitashour is an in-form defender (on both sides of the ball), and not two weeks ago shut down Castillo definitively in Dallas. Fabian was up for the same task on Wednesday, but came out attempting the same tricks. A few balls he switched to the opposite flank and combinations he made with Ferreira were excellent. But trying to bore through an All-Star right back yet again displayed his naiveté. His dribbling is not ineffective on most defenders, but Beitashour did what few defenders will do to Castillo: deny him space at every turn. The only time Fabian found room to run was after Beitashour had pressed high up the field in the San Jose attack and was too gassed to return to position. To further his struggles, his pass completion rate hovered just above 50%. To compound an already tenuous performance, he’ll be out against Portland for yellow card accumulation.
- Statistically speaking, this was an improved performance. Over 50 percent of FCD’s shots were on frame, the number of shots increased, passing in the attacking third was above the past two matches – at least in passes attempted in the final third, passes attempted were of a greater quantity and accuracy (even if just by a couple percentage points), and corners earned, in addition to open play crosses, were remarkably high. This all points to a great number of attacks and chances created. The downside is that while possession, passing, and chances increased in frequency (at least comparatively to the Colorado match) they did not increase in effectiveness. Look no further for the source of the goose egg for Dallas until late in the game. FCD should have gone up early on, with three quick opportunities within the first five minutes, and even in the San Jose penalty area. Fortunately for San Jose, three chances on frame are all they needed (out of a total of 15) to find a way past Kevin Hartman. They were two quality chances as well, and Marvin Chavez’s goal would be a Goal of the Week winner if it hadn’t been for Thierry Henry or LA’s Villarreal. But the number of corners, shots, and open play crosses that were pumped in by FCD is certainly the most in months. Now it has to be a constant from here on out.
- Marking on the far side, an issue last match against the Quakes, went unaddressed. Both SJ goals came from poor marking on the back side, whether it was at the top of the penalty area or just outside the six yard box. Chavez’s open look, and ensuing brilliant strike, could’ve been prevented with Jacobson or de Guzman remaining implanted in the middle, just ahead of the back line. Unfortunately they were caught on a counter. The second goal actually started with a great defensive stop in the back for FCD. Yet a poor switch from Benitez followed, intended for Zach Loyd, ending up on the face of Andrew Jacobson. After ricocheting off the midfielder’s chin it went into the path of Gordon, who laid it off to his supporting midfield. Loyd was pressed high at this point, already moving forward into the attack. After a quick combination the ball ended up at the feet to an oncoming Cronin, who lobbed it to Gordon on the back post. Hernan Pertuz failed to pick up Gordon – not even glancing over his shoulder. It was a complete failure by Dallas in the back that created the opportunity for the Quakes; every movement from the Benitez pass onward evoked utter disarray.
Again, this was quite an entertaining match and Dallas clearly was intent on going at San Jose. That, if nothing else, is promising. It shows budding confidence, especially after an excellent away win in Colorado. But the match was paradoxical in a sense, because prior to the 89th minute most Dallasites would have been content, if not at least accepting, of a 2-0 loss to the best performing side in MLS. Schellas and his squad will rue the dropped point, but what may hurt worse in the long term is the dent in confidence, and subsequent drama that emerged out of Wednesday night.
(image courtesy of fcdallas.com)
