E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The excuses are there: three games in eight days, including a cross-country flight, terrible weather conditions and another first-half injury. FC Dallas had their choice of reasons why they lost 3-0 Sunday to the New York Red Bulls at a rain-soaked Giants Stadium.
But they didn't use any of them.
"It was a very frustrating day and a very soft defeat for us, as well," FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow said. "I thought the goals we gave up were very soft, could have been prevented. We just lacked that extra passion, desire and commitment we needed today."
The Hoops end their treacherous stretch with four points away from home, pretty good considering they played at the home opener of Real Salt Lake, Los Angeles Galaxy and the Red Bulls. But they fly home from New York knowing they let points slip away.
"It's positive, it started off well in the first two games," Morrow said. "We wanted to finish it off good here in New York and we felt we could have come in and got a good result. I'm bitterly disappointed."
Before the game was 20 minutes old, FC Dallas was down a defender as David Wagenfuhr left with a concussion, his third in two years. It came three days after midfielder Marcelo Saragosa injured his right MCL in the first half against the Galaxy.
And then there were the conditions, a drenching downpour with temperatures in the 40s that resulted in players from both teams - FCD defender Clarence Goodson and Red Bulls goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus - leaving the game with hypothermia.
"The weather and conditions are all part of soccer," Kenny Cooper said. "Sometimes you might play on fields that might not be the best or the weather might not be the best, but it's part of the job, it comes with the territory and it's a credit to them, they did well and got a good win."
Added Carlos Ruiz: "It was very tough but I think we didn't play good. It's true the conditions were tough for both teams, but we didn't play our soccer and that's why we lost 3-0."
The Red Bulls midfield controlled the game from the outset and by the time the teams scurried for the warmth of their locker rooms at the half, New York already had a 2-0 lead on goals by Jozy Altidore and Clint Mathis. No matter what uniform Mathis wears, he somehow finds a way to kill Dallas. With his goal Sunday, Mathis has 19 goals and seven assists in 30 career games, including five goals and two assists in eight playoff games.
"He knows when he wants the ball and be involved with everything," center back Alex Yi said. "If you look at the tape today, they had the most success when Clint was getting on the ball, putting through balls in or getting shots from long range. As defenders, he keeps us on our toes. We either have to close him down or drop. He gives that dynamic for their attack and he's a very good player."
According to Morrow, the Dallas defenders perhaps gave Mathis too much respect.
"I think we give him too much space and room to play," Morrow said. "He was dropping off and getting in good positions and I think we weren't quite getting inside enough."
The Hoops played better in the second half, especially possessing the ball, but they produced just six shots, forcing substitute goalkeeper Jon Conway to make three saves.
"I thought we possessed the ball a bit better in the second half, but again it's just very frustrating," Morrow said. "Passes weren't quite getting there, the ball was bouncing all over the place and we couldn't get it down, didn't do enough in the last third of the field and didn't create enough chances really."
The positive, though, is that FC Dallas finally gets to go home and play in front of its home fans at Pizza Hut Park next Sunday night against the Colorado Rapids.
"It's going to be good for us, our first game at home against Colorado," Ruiz said. "We need to talk about the mistakes we made in these three games away and try to fix them and play good this weekend for our fans."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
