FCDallas Preps For A Winded Affair!

Oscar Pareja had a decision to make prior to his teams match with the Los Angeles Galaxy. With the Seattle Sounders on the schedule September 24th at  Toyota Stadium the burning question was whether or not to play Matt Hedges and Fabian Castillo?

Coach opted to rest his top scorer and defensive leader aware of the challenge that lies ahead when Seattle comes to town.

This meant Kellyn Acosta and Ryan Holingshead would get to enjoy spot duty on the right side of the field when action commenced at StubHub Center.

At stake for the Galaxy was the chance to tie the Seattle Sounders for points in the West, laying claim to the Supporters Shield, and clinching a playoff spot once the regular season ended.

Those two teams will face one another the last two weeks of the season to determine who the better team happens to be in the Western Conference.

Landon Donovan also returned after serving a suspension. Jaime Penedo also returned to playing goalie.

Win or lose FCDallas was safely meshed in 4th place with a two game cushion over the 5th place Portland Timbers and one game (points-wise) behind Real Salt Lake for 3rd.

September 20th in Los Angeles would be a scoreless affair in the first half despite scoring chances for Gyasi Zardes in the 26th and 42nd minutes when a redirect went into the arms of El Matador Raul Fernandez and a header flew above the crossbar.

Despite being down two players it was Team Pareja who would strike first in the 54th minute when Blas Perez would collect his 9th goal of the season and third in two games, assisted by Andres Escobar for an early lead.

Gyasi Zardes would assist Robbie Keane to find the net some eight minutes later after Victor Ulloa had difficulties in keeping his feet with the ball in front of him. Keane took the feed as the kick would rifle off the hands of Raul Fernandez for a 1-1 tie after 62 minutes.

The Galaxy would then get the go-ahead goal in the 83 minute when Alan Gordon-one month removed from a trade with the Earthquakes of San Jose- would knock a header into the net after a perfect cross from Robbie Keane for a 2-1 lead and your subsequent final score.

The Galaxy (15-5-9 54 ponts) are now in a dead heat with the Sounders of Seattle, nine points ahead of FCDallas (13-10-6 45 points) in the Western Conference of the MLS.

FCDallas was dominated on the stats sheet from shots (19-9)  to corners (6-0) to fouls (17-7) to crosses (29-9). Coming into this game Oscar Pareja knew he had a game to toy with before the Sounders come to Frisco for an 8pm game at Toyota Stadium.

The return of Clint Dempsey and a Sounders team that is playoff bound with much to play for. Five games remain in the regular season for FCDallas. They have an opportunity to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

4th place is currently theirs. The challenge now is to gain points and keep from losing. The rematch with Seattle will be the first meeting here since a warm and windy April 12th night when shots on goal favored each team with the wind at their back. A 2-1 FCDallas halftime lead disappeaed when Clint Dempsey proceeded to have a two goal game on the heels of a hat trick one week prior in Portland with the Timbers.

After the Sounders game FCDallas and Coach Pareja get to enjoy a ten day break before closing out the regular season with a road trip to Vancouver on October 4th. Two more home games in Frisco. Two final chances to catch the RedFor90 Crew before we proceed to (we are hoping) a playoff run.

Remaining Schedule:

September 24th: Seattle Sounders  8pm CST

October 4th: At Vancouver Whitecaps 6pm CST

October 12th: L.A. Galaxy 6pm CST

October 18th: At Colorado Rapids 2pm CST

October 25th: Portland Timbers 7:30 CST

Red For 90!

Dallas Til I Die!

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will