On Saturday night, the scoreboard showed a 2-1 win for FC Dallas against South American partner Clube Atletico Paranaense that allowed the Hoops to capture the USA/Brazil Challenge for the first time. But the score was only half the story.
FCD played the final 49 minutes of the match with a two-man advantage after CAP players Michel and Eduardo Salles were sent off in the 41st minute for an altercation with referee Richard Sanchez but the Hoops were unable to muster many serious scoring chances even with the two-man edge.
"I wouldn't say it (the lack of chances) is something that concerns me," FCD head coach Steve Morrow said after the match. "We had a few chances but not enough. When the game turns into that situation, it gets difficult because they got so many bodies behind the ball and were hard to break down. That being said, I am disappointed that we didn't score more goals."
His players agreed.
"They did a good job but we didn't do a good enough job of getting balls in," said left wingback David Wagenfuhr, who scored FCD's first goal. "We just need to get the ball in behind them when they had everyone in. I don't think so (that our lack of chances is a big concern). As soon as those red cards happened, it was a different game. We need to have a different mentality but I think we'll be ready for next weekend."
FCD forward Kenny Cooper set up Wagenfuhr's goal, after CAP's Leonardo Le gave the visitors a 1-0 edge after a great header off a long free kick in the 15th minute.
"I think we created a lot of chances throughout the game," Cooper said. "We scored two goals and at the end of the day, it's a good win for us. I think we go into the season with a good bit of momentum."
Two minutes after Wagenfuhr sent a nice chip into the far side of the net from 25 yards out, Pablo Ricchetti connected on a free kick to make it 2-1 that set off a near-riot by the CAP players.
The visiting players complained that they did not have enough time to set their wall before Ricchetti took his kick. Sanchez had told the CAP players to move back but once he did that, he stepped back. Then Ricchetti took his kick and scored.
After the goal, Salles pushed Sanchez to the ground and Michel was sent off for putting his hands on the official. The entire contingent of officials were about to leave the field when Morrow and other FCD officials stepped in and coaxed them into continuing.
"He (the referee) was very concerned about the whole situation," Morrow said. "Once a player strikes an official like that, the referee is entitled to abandon the game. I tried to talk him out of that and I think he showed a lot of common sense and bravery but a lot of credit to him for coming back out on the field."
It was definitely a night to remember for Morrow, to say the least.
"It was certainly an interesting game," he said. "I look at the big picture and am delighted that we won the competition four goals to one in aggregate, which is great. We had a good performance down there and followed it up with a good victory tonight. I'm pleased to get the first trophy of the season. That's what I asked of the boys before the game and we got the job done."
But even though the FCD coach was pleased with the end result, there were several things he saw in tonight's match that must be addressed before the Hoops open MLS play next Sunday against Chivas USA at Pizza Hut Park.
"I was by no means pleased with how we played in the first 30 minutes," Morrow said. "I thought we came out sloppy and without enough intensity. But we got ourselves back in the game. We weren't quite sharp enough in the second half either. I think after there are two red cards in a game, it takes the shine off the whole game."
For Morrow, the way the match ended was especially disappointing considering that he and his staff wanted to gauge how his squad stacked up with CAP's first team, something that didn't exactly work out thanks to the two ejections.
"The way it turned out, I think it is (a disappointment)," he said. "We got the victory, wanted to win the trophy and did that, which is pleasing. I tried to get at least another player back on the field so that the game would be at least a little more realistic and a bit more of a challenge but unfortunately, that didn't happen."
While the Hoops were without center back Duilio Davino who missed the match with a bone bruise on his left knee. But Juan Toja did make his return, playing the final 45 minutes of the match. The midfielder's last action came in a March 4 preseason game in Brazil.
"I thought he did well," Morrow said of Toja's performance. "His fitness is really starting to come on and he just needs to gain some match fitness now. He started to show glimpses that he's getting back to his best form."
The effort was much better for FCD than their offensive output in a 0-0 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy last Saturday. In that match, the Hoops mustered 11 total shots but none of those were on frame. Against CAP, they delivered 12 shots and seven of those were on goal.
FCD did have one player injured. In the 20th minute, 19-year-old Brazilian forward Ricardinho, who is on loan from CAP, suffered a right ankle sprain and a foot contusion. He left the field for several minutes before returning but didn't play the second half.
After the match, X-rays on Ricardinho were negative. He was seen in the FCD locker room after the game with his right foot in a boot and on crutches. His status will be further evaluated on Monday by the Hoops training staff.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
