Saturday night's 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake was disconcerting to FC Dallas for several reasons. Not only did it mark their second consecutive loss, a setback that prevented the MLS Western Conference leaders from becoming only the second league side to clinch a playoff spot, but it was also their second loss in a row against a team with only 10 men.
The Hoops had a man advantage for 57 minutes against RSL after former FCD midfielder Carey Talley was sent off for a hard foul. They took the lead just 13 minutes later courtesy of Carlos Ruiz's second goal of the game, his 10th of the season, but surrendered two goals after the halftime break.
On Wednesday against Chivas USA, the Hoops fell behind in the 13th minute off a goal from Juan Pablo Garcia but got a break when Jesus Morales was dispatched from the field in the 76th minute after picking up his second yellow in four minutes. But, FCD was only able to muster four shots with the extra man and fell 1-0 on their home ground.
FCD head coach Colin Clarke is clearly disappointed with how his team has performed with an extra player but knows winning those games is no easy proposition.
"It's not as easy as people think," Clarke said. "It's hard because the team without the man will sit in about 18 yards back in their half of the field and are hard to break down. That's not easy to do. It's difficult. We only had a couple of chances to do so."
But it's not like FCD hasn't been successful with the extra player this year. On Sept. 2 against Houston, they got their first-ever win against Dynamo off a goal from Houston native Arturo Alvarez in the 86th minute. The Hoops played a man up after Houston defender Eddie Robinson was sent off in the 31st minute after getting his second yellow card in a minute.
For the FCD players, not capitalizing with a man up in their last two losses boils down to concentration and focus.
"We just have to stay focused," said second-year forward Abe Thompson. "We went up a man on Saturday (at Real Salt Lake) and it may or may not have helped us. We got the lead and sat back and let them come at us. They're fighting for a spot in the playoffs. I give full credit to them for taking advantage of it."
Midfielder Ronnie O'Brien took a different angle.
"I think it's a little bit of everything," he said. "At times (on Saturday), it was too easy for us. We could have scored a goal in the first 30 seconds (of play). We scored a goal early and then conceded a goal.
"We came out to start the second half (against Real Salt Lake) and passed the ball around well. Then we got into a little funk and didn't take our chances. They scored and we couldn't get ourselves out of second gear. It's a will to win and we just don't have it right now."
One thing Clarke will not attribute FCD's lack of results with a man advantage to is his team lacking a killer instinct.
"No, I don't think so," he said. "We've won a man up (this year) and two years ago (against Colorado in the Cotton Bowl), we won with two men up. It's tough but you should win and get goals more times than not, but it doesn't always work out that way."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
