FRISCO, Texas — In our weekly series featuring Schellas Hyndman, the FC Dallas manager addresses 11 topics, including the good and bad of the scoreless draw against Real Salt Lake, how he kept busy during the rain delay in Frisco and the team’s current shutout streak.
I. For the second time in May, FC Dallas played to a scoreless draw, this time against Western Conference rivals Real Salt Lake.
“We are disappointed with the tie. We always say to our players, ‘There’s three points there to be taken,’ and we always try to get those three points.”
II-III. Also for the second time in May, FC Dallas were forced to take shelter as a thunderstorm passed through Frisco, halting play in the 83rd minute.
“The rain is tough on everyone and what we try to do is try to talk to them a little bit individually, but also realize that they have to find their own space and do whatever they feel comfortable with.
“We’ve been through it before, so that was a little bit of knowledge for us. I stayed completely away from the officials.”
IV-V. Hyndman kept himself occupied during the hour-and-52-minute delay.
“Since we’ve been through it before, I didn’t think there was going to be a lot of things going on in the background.
“I stayed away and probably spent a good hour and 15 minutes cleaning my office because I don’t have time to do it and I wanted to keep busy.”
VI. With the scoreless draw, FC Dallas extended their shutout streak to 399 minutes, second best in MLS in 2011.
“I think it’s been great. I mentioned that to the players afterwards. I think the team is playing good defense.”
VII. FC Dallas had the best opportunity of the game in the first half, when George John knocked a corner kick rebound towards goal, forcing a spectacular save from RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
“Rimando made a great save. It could be the save of the week that George hit.”
VIII. John’s shot on goal was the only real scoring threat for FC Dallas after practicing all week in a two-striker system.
“I think we were just a little disconnected. We worked all week on coordinating our two strikers with our flank players and we worked all week on services, early services, and then we weren’t able to get on the end of them.”
IX. Forward Ruben Luna performed well in his 18-minute substitute appearance, according to the 2010 MLS Coach of the Year.
“We don’t have the biggest guys up there, so you put a big guy up there like a Ruben. I think he caused them some different type of problems.”
X. In the end, Hyndman saw two teams aiming for different results.
“I didn’t think they really had many scoring chances. It just turned out to be one of those games where they were trying to get a point and we were trying to get three.”
XI. FC Dallas had little time to dwell on Sunday’s game as they traveled to Seattle on Monday in preparation for a midweek game at Qwest Field, starting a long week on the road.
“We play Wednesday night and I think we will practice probably Tuesday. Then, fly Thursday through Dallas. We will be in Houston on Thursday, playing on Saturday [against the Houston Dynamo].”
