Despite leading for 44 minutes in the second half of Sunday's matchup with Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas left Robertson Stadium with its second tie of the season.
The Hoops have held a lead until late in the second half in each of the season's first two matches, only to have the victory taken away by a late equalizer both times. Geoff Cameron's goal in the first minute of stoppage time was the heartbreaker this time around.
"We're disappointed to give up a goal so late," said FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow. "We did the same thing last week, so we should be sitting on two wins and six points right now."
Forward Arturo Alvarez, who scored what could have been the winning goal in the second half, agreed.
"The team didn't come out with the win, though I think we deserved it," Alvarez said. "Soccer's like that sometimes, but the good thing is that we played well. We just have to finish the games."
The tie stings even more because FC Dallas appeared to be on the verge of winning their first game ever in Robertson Stadium against their intra-state rivals.
"We're very disappointed," Morrow said. "It feels like a loss. I think we should have had the game won by then. We had two or three chances to go up 4-2. We should've finished off the game."
Though the result is disappointing, the Hoops played well. Perhaps the biggest reason for optimism is improved play in the midfield after struggling to possess the ball in the season opener against Chivas USA.
FC Dallas also showed signs of an explosive offense, with two goals scored by Kenny Cooper, both in the first half, and the one by Alvarez that put the Hoops back into the lead barely a minute after an own goal brought the Dynamo level at 2-2.
"I think [Cooper] and [Juan Toja] and I did a lot of good stuff out there," Alvarez said, "and I think we could do even more. We enjoy working with each other, and hopefully we can continue to contribute to the team as much as we can."
For Alvarez, it was his first appearance of the season after he was suspended for the season opener. His goal provided a little redemption -- that suspension came from his expulsion in last year's playoff loss to Houston at Robertson Stadium which ended FCD's season. Alvarez is also a Houston native.
"I think I can give a lot more. It's the very beginning of the season; it's my first game," he said. "I'm pretty happy with my performance, but I know I can do better."
Morrow agreed and is focused on using the lessons of these two disappointing early-season draws to help his team improve.
"It's still very early days and there's a lot of positive things from the game," Morrow said, "so we'll take those and move on and continue to get better."
Lucas Ogden-Davis is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
