Questions and a disputed title loomed over Saturday’s match against Los Angeles. Could Hyndman’s side claim, arguably, the biggest scalp in the Western Conference? Had FCD steamed to the top of the west and league with a favorable home schedule? Were thirteen out of eighteen possible points a product of luck rather than dominance?
Even Major League Soccer’s own Power Rankings (just slightly better than FIFA’s international rankings) favored teams that had less points (LA), less wins or points per game (SKC), and even sides FCD recently defeated (Houston).
Doubters, Be Silenced
A more definitive answer was given, if not just partial, Saturday. Despite the theatrics of two missed penalties, a red card, and the second half emergence, and subsequent tormenting by, Landon Donovan, FCD landed a victory against the two-time defending MLS champions.
Los Angeles did little to pressure FCD for seventy minutes. The first half was drudgery, in a way, with neither side hitting the net with even a single shot. Positively speaking, the first half was yet another prevailing defensive display that has been consistent all season long.
Dallas had a simple first forty five minutes dealing with a Robbie Keane-less Galaxy attack. Mike Magee, deployed on the right wing, did little make his presence seem in any way threatening. Even Landon Donovan saw very little of the ball.
Ball after ball served into the Galaxy boxed was cleared. Loyd and Benitez were rampant in the attack, overlapping and getting their share of services, in addition to those of Ferreira and Jackson. Despite Juninho doing his best “calf getting roped” impression at the hands of David Ferreira, Dallas ended the first half confounded yet confident, but empty-handed.
Fifteen initial minutes of the second half brought on clearer chances from both sides, including Blas Perez’s taking down and subsequent penalty. Kenny Cooper’s scoring duck continued with his following miss, but the responding save from Fernandez at the other end of the pitch silenced the brief momentum and spirit LA could claim.
If any man deserved a beer, by the end of the match, it was George John. Technically, he got one, but delivered in one of the worst ways imaginable. Maybe the thrower was dissatisfied with his variety of choices in the beer garden. Maybe said beer had gone suddenly flat, and what followed wasn’t a throw, but a shaking gone horribly wrong.
But John’s goal, nodded in after Hassli’s flick back post and Michel’s corner, was a product of immense attacking pressure on the wounded and depleted Galaxy. Call it a toast to stalwart defending from George John, Raul Fernandez, and the rest of the FCD defense, but it seemed to be a goal coming from the most deserving source.
A victory against LA still can’t get Dallas any love in the Power Rankings. But here is how success for the club can be measure in the first fifth of the 2013 season: five victories, sixteen points out of twenty one, a five game unbeaten streak, three of five conference wins, tied for best goal differential (SKC & LA), most goals scored (11), most points per game (2.29), and four shutouts.
The Power Rankings be damned: this is a dominant display over a sustained period. Can FCD keep up the pace? Hyndman’s sides have been known to throw down some great mid-to-late season runs, but never straight out of the gates.
The next three matches are crucial: away and home to faltering Vancouver, and at home to open the month of May against Portland. Both games against Vancouver are very winnable, as the Whitecaps have yet to find any consistent form (2-2-2 overall). The game against Portland at home is a must-win: it is downright arduous to get any points from Jeld Wen field, and FCD will travel there twice in 2013.
Given the team’s dismal road record in 2012, and 1-1-1 record so far in 2013, the doubters can still hang their questions on FCD’s road form. Should Hyndman press his side into gaining meaningful points and winning record away from Frisco and this team could very well live up to its early season promise.
(image courtesy of USA Today Sports Images)
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