FCDallas Advances To A Primetime Matchup!

Photo by Willie Martin "Mr Will"

There was probable concern for the fans of the local MLS team perhaps having had a letdown after clinching a playoff spot a few weeks ago.

October 25 all FCDallas had to was defeat a Portland Timbers team for the right to clinch a home playoff game on November 1. The Timbers had ideas of their own.

FCDallas fell 2-0 and because of that Oscar Pareja's team was forced to play a midweek Knockout Round game as the #4 seed against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Win or go home. Pretty simple, right?

A crowd of almost 11,000 braved cool conditions inside Toyota Stadium to see a game that would be marred by some controversy. More on that in a moment.

Fans and people in the know were presented with VOTE FOR TESHO buttons in an attempt to get Mr. Akindele Rookie Of The Year considerations.

Leave it to Tesho to get the crowd roaring in the 40th minute when connecting on a beautiful pass from Mauro Diaz in a 2 on 1 against the Whitecap goalie for an early 1-0 lead. It remained that way going into the break.

Vancouver tightened things up considerably in the middle in the second half as they tried to penetrate the back wall of the Red For 90 quartet only to be turned away time and time again until the 64th minute when striker Erik Hurtado succeeded on getting a strike to deflect off an FCD defender past the outstretched arms of Chris Seitz to knot things up at 1-all.

Then came the controversy in about the 82nd minute referee Mark Geiger ruled that Vancouver player Kendall Watson was guilty of a handball offense. Replays showed evidence to the contrary.

Either way that call led to a penalty kick for Michel who buried the shot into the far left corner of the goal for FCDallas. 

With the 2-1 victory Oscar Pareja's group proceeds to the Conference Semi Final Round with the Seattle Sounders Sunday night November 2 at 8 pm. Expect a crazy boisterous atmosphere as FCDallas advances to the semifinals round for the first time since 2010.

Win or lose you can expect some video visits from some the FCDallas players and Coach Oscar Pareja. In fact here is the FCDallas coach addressing the media moments after the match ended.

FCDallas has split two games here in Frisco in 2014. Clint Dempsey will be the biggest test for this young and hungry group. Be sure to come out early. Its going to be a packed house.

Any chance another Texas team can place a dagger in the hearts of Seattle?

See you there!

Red For 90.

Red For Glory.

Dallas Til I Die!

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will