FC Dallas' hopes of atoning for what they felt was a poor result on Thursday were on the right track early in Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Midway through the first half, though, the club was hit with a double whammy. First, defender Chris Gbandi was sent off after picking up his second yellow card on a play that resulted in a penalty kick. Then, Landon Donovan converted the spot kick and put the hosts in a comfortable position.
Chris Klein's late match-winner sealed the Hoops' fate as the Galaxy won 2-1.
"We started the game really well. We were coming in with a lot of intensity. We wanted a good result from this game," FC Dallas midfielder Arturo Alvarez said. "I don't think our team was really happy with the result we got on Thursday against Chicago (a 1-1 draw) and we wanted to come here and get back to our winning ways. Obviously we got a red card early in the game and that changes the whole perspective. We have to kind of adapt to what they're going to bring to us."
Dax McCarty gave the visitors a lead in the 11th minute and FC Dallas seemed to settle into a rhythm until Gbandi was sent off. Afterward, the Hoops tried to cover for the gaping hole on the left side of the defense instead of trying to push forward with their original game plan.
In the end, though, the players felt they gave their all despite nothing to show for it. FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow told his players afterward that he was happy with the effort but did not relay as much to the media; he left the team's locker room before the media were allowed in.
"He obviously is not happy with the result. We're not happy with the result," Alvarez said of Morrow. "He was really happy with our effort. He told us that. He let us know that everything else was good but we were unfortunate not to get a good result."
McCarty opened the scoring when he latched onto a cross from Gbandi and tucked it inside the right post. The goal came on the same field in which McCarty made his MLS debut as the second-year man made his first-ever appearance for FC Dallas at The Home Depot Center in a game against Chivas USA on July 1, 2006.
"It feels great. I've been kind of the provider so to speak this year. I kind of like it like that but obviously I've been looking to score that first one. It's been kind of frustrating for me," McCarty said. "Unfortunately for it to come under these circumstances is a little bittersweet."
Now, though, McCarty said he won't be thinking about breaking his duck.
"I got the monkey off my back now and I can just relax and play," McCarty said. "The more important thing is winning. It feels good to score but we need to get back on track."
Gbandi was booked in the 21st minute after tripping Galaxy midfielder Kevin Harmse as he raced by as play continued on. Harmse was also booked as he instigated the foul with a prior foul of his own, one that was not originally called as referee Michael Kennedy played the advantage.
Two minutes later, Gbandi was called for a foul inside the penalty area on Klein, pulling him down from behind as he tried to get on the end of a Donovan free kick.
"The first yellow, you kind of have to think about the team and keep your head nice and calm but I don't think the PK was really a foul," Alvarez said. "If he was going to give a foul for that, give the PK but don't give the yellow."
On the spot kick, Dario Sala tried to distract Donovan and he did, sort of. Sala blocked Donovan's attempt but the rebound went back to the Galaxy star who promptly placed it in the back of the net.
It was all for nothing, however, as referee Kennedy ruled that Sala had come off his line early and booked him for it.
"I don't know why he gave it to me. I tried to distract Donovan and I did," Sala said. "I made the save. Afterward he booked me but I just tried to help the team and came away with a save. In any situation like that you just try and gain any advantage you can."
Donovan placed the subsequent penalty kick directly into the back of the net.
FC Dallas fought for much of the second half until Klein buried a 22-yard bomb into the back of the net.
"Incredible. It's not luck," Sala said. "I know he hits like that but I should have had given him more credit for having the ability to place it there and maybe then cover the angle better. In reality, I never thought he would place it there. To me, he has one of the best shots in the league."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
