Quincey Amarikwa battles Matt Hedges for the ball. Amerikwa was a major force in the game, tallying two assists for San Jose Earthquakes. Photo credit: Ziro Castellanos
FC Dallas looked to defend their unbeaten home streak on a rainy night at Toyota Stadium in Frisco against the San Jose Earthquakes. The Hoops were happy to be playing at home since their only previous Western Conference game was away, in the now infamous 5-0 thrashing by Houston Dynamo in the second week of the season.
Things started brightly in the first minute for FC Dallas with David Bingham needing to punch away a Fabian Castillo shot from just outside the penalty box. The corner resulted in a mad scramble in front of goal with shots deflecting and the Earthquakes unable to clear their half for almost another minute.
Unfortunately, for the second game in a row FC Dallas were punished early; this time in the 3rd minute when Albert Quintero scored with a very technical finish on a cross from Amerikwa.
Tesho Akindele, who had put a ball into the side netting in the 17th minute, had a really good game and helped win the first of what turned out to be four successive corners in the 27th minute for Dallas, but they still could not break the deadlock.
That would change in the 36th minute.
Carlos Gruezo played a ball over the top to Tesho, who laid it off to Michael Barrios. Ryan Hollingshead, who had started the play level with Gruezo in the defensive half of the field, came barreling into the box and Barrios played a through ball for Hollingshead to run onto. Shaun Francis tripped Hollingshead and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
Tesho Akindele stepped up to put Bingham the wrong way and scored his second goal of the season.
It was a fast start to the second half as the teams traded corners in the first few minutes. FC Dallas were undone again, when Chris Wondolowski scored for the the Earthquakes only 10 minutes into the second half. A throw in found its way to Amarikwa who played a great ball between Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman, and Wondolowski was able to shoot the ball under Chris Seitz.
Mauro Rosales was brought in with a full half hour left in the match to add some attack. The move paid immediate dividends as minutes of constant pressure after his introduction ultimately resulted in an own goal from Victor Bernardez in the 62nd minute. The Honduran international headed in a Castillo cross behind his goal.
Maximiliano Urruti celebrates the own goal. Photo credit: Ziro Castellanos
It was Rosales again as the provider for an intense goal line scramble in the 68th minute. Urruti got on to Rosales’ deflected cross and Bingham came out to block his first attempt. The ball went straight up in the air and Urruti headed it back toward goal only to see that shot come back off the crossbar. Castillo was there but the ball was cleared by a defender and eventually found its way to the foot of Hollingshead who shot well wide of the goal frame.
Mauro is injured? Put in the other Mauro! Photo credit: Ziro Castellanos
It was that kind of night for FC Dallas. They remain unbeaten at home, and after the game Oscar Pareja commented on the draws from the last two home games:
We are not happy giving away points at home. Especially for a team that has been strong in Frisco. But I have to value and praise this team and their character. We are not losing, and I say to them, “If you cannot win the game, don’t lose the game.” They are fighting. I have to praise that.
That fight will be tested as FC Dallas is headed for a tough, mid-week road game against the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season, the Portland Timbers.
San Jose Earthquakes
