FRISCO, Texas—Another week at Toyota Stadium, another puzzling draw with some unlikely heroes.
FC Dallas took what it was given Saturday night in a 2-2 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes. The hosts' only goal that will be credited to them came on a penalty kick in the 36th minute, with the later equalizer coming off an own goal by the Quakes' Victor Bernardez.
“Overall a difficult game for both teams,” said FCD head coach Oscar Pareja. “I have to say we deserved more in the second half, but also we found a team that was efficient. And I have to take the point today.”
It was the second straight game for FC Dallas without playmaker Mauro Diaz pulling the strings. The difference this time, however, is that they were able to prepare a full week with the possibility that Diaz wouldn’t be suiting up.
The extra preparation time allowed Pareja to start with a 4-4-2 and insert Tesho Akindele into the starting XI. For a second straight week, the Canadian delivered with a goal, this time on a penalty kick.
“That’s my job to score goals when I can and create chances,” Akindele said. “That’s my mindset every game, to make something happen. I’m glad I did tonight.”
Even the own goal committed by the Quakes came as a product of Dallas' Fabian Castillo firing a zinger from the back, with the hopes one of his own men would be there to clean it up and equalize the game.
But creating chances was a struggle for much of the match without Diaz – at least until Pareja elected to sub Mauro Rosales into the game for Kellyn Acosta in the 60th minute. When Rosales entered, the team had a pep in its step on the attacking front and began to put the Quakes on their heels.
“We needed someone who can create and put two or three combinations together,” Pareja said. “We opted to bring Mauro in to give us that connection that was missing in the last third of the field. He sparked the team, and he created. He gave us ideas in those minutes.”
Pareja said he would consider Rosales moving forward to keep the offensive spark present, particularly if Diaz’s injury status remains up in the air. He also said he would not play Diaz, or any player for that matter, that isn’t at 100 percent.
For this game though, the spark Rosales brought was not enough to pick up three points at home – points to which the club became accustomed to grabbing in 2015.
“We don’t want to be in that position when we’re down at home,” Akindele said. “We feel like we should be beating every team at home. We feel like we’re good enough to do that. There’s a little bit of disappointment still.”
