An unbeaten record (8-0-1 in the league) against a quality side like RSL does fit all the characteristics of a spell well set upon the Utah-based side. Dallas, still, will have its work cut out after a difficult road loss on Saturday at the hands of the Whitecaps.
“It’s disappointing losing on the road, but we have to bounce back. We have a game on Wednesday,” Chris Seitz said. “We just have to get our legs underneath us. We have to keep on grinding, and if we do all the right things,we are going to get goals, and we are going to get wins.”
Ultimately these are fairly sage words from backup-turned-starting goalkeeper. The loss was disappointing at Vancouver, but despite the majority of possession, FCD failed to give itself a fighting chance in front of the net. One moment of not doing the “right things” cost Hyndman and company the match early on versus the Whitecaps.
Despite Saturday’s setback, Dallas should feel upbeat stepping into tonight’s game against RSL. The Utah-based side will lack Jamison Olave (starting center back) and Fabian Espindola (starting forward and lead goalscorer) after both were sent off during Salt Lake’s game against San Jose last week. Surely, this will dim RSL’s hopes of coming out of Dallas with at least a point.
“We fought back from an extremely difficult circumstance – a man down, a goal down,” RSL head coach Jason Kreis said. “You go two men down and fight, fight, fight and come really close [to getting a result], so let’s try to look at the positives.”
Kreis, the Dallas legend, has at least a guise of confidence and assuredness going into tonight’s match. However, Salt Lake have never won in Dallas. In fact, they’ve barely won in Texas for that matter over the course of the past few seasons, going 0-7-1 against Houston, and an even worse 0-8-1 against FC Dallas. With two starters set to begin suspensions tonight, odds would certainly be against Salt Lake as they continue a three game road trip. Dallas will for sure not be a welcoming environment.
Yet, FCD does have problems of its own. Ricardo Villar and David Ferreira are both still out with respective ankle and foot injuries. Andrew Jacobson is dealing with similar issues and is questionable. Hernan Pertuz did not start against Vancouver on Saturday after he picked up a knock the previous week. Injuries are starting to take a toll on Dallas, especially in the center of midfield.
If the situation in the center of midfield is tenuous, then the situation up top certainly has to be. Blas Perez will serve a one game, retroactively-given suspension tonight for the phantom elbow he threw against Vancouver’s Harvey. Was it the right call by the MLS disciplinary committee (they have spoken!) No, if they measure intent. Blas’ eyes are fixed on the ball, and he moves his elbow up as if trying to avoid full-on contact with the rest of his and Harvey’s torsos. Yet, the DC has spoken, and he will be out tonight. Again, this puts Dallas in a pickle up top.
Brek Shea could easily see some time up top in a 4-1-4-1, which would put Rodriguez and Castillo out on the wings. Castillo is more likely to fit the bill, however. He has done it before. Isolated one-on-one and with balls served into space, where he has room to sprint, he could be very dangerous. It has to be said that Castillo is definitely a different type of forward than Blas Perez, and the team would have to alter its tactics, playing a majority of the match on the floor, to fit Castillo’s style.
Dallas looked at its best against Vancouver when it was patient. All the quality chances created during the match (and yes, we can count one low-angle Brek Shea strike) came from good builds out of the back. Shea and company should remain patient against RSL, as a barrage of constantly forced through balls and crosses will only put this game at a stalemate. RSL, for all intents and purposes, will be content to leave Dallas with a point given the circumstances surrounding the match.
Therefore, FCD should heed the problems San Jose gave RSL last week. All three goals were headed into the back of Salt Lake’s net. Set pieces and corners will play a mighty role this match, if these hints are to be indicative of what to expect from the RSL back line. How does Dallas do this, though? Wingplay is critical, and fortunately FCD has three (four if you count Leyva) able-bodied wingers who are capable of doing damage one-on-one. Combination play along the wings, switching the point of attack and finding the space towards the bylines will put RSL on their backfoot, allow FCD to set into a rhythm they are familiar with, and ultimately force RSL into coughing up a few corners, and perhaps even a few chances served in from the wings. Dallas needs, as shown by the first 10 minutes of the Vancouver match, to impose its game upon this match from the first minute forward, and keep RSL from grinding this one out (intensity, intensity, intensity!).
Unfortunately for Salt Lake, Dallas’ hoodoo against the rest of the league has been exemplary at home, as they remain undefeated. The curse should be a fitting replacement for Blas, if not consolation to a Dallas side who plainly need a victory tonight.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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