FRISCO, Texas — As if an injury crisis weren’t already taking its toll, FC Dallas now have to deal with the suspensions of two key players in midfielder Daniel Hernandez and striker Blas Pérez.
Both were suspended due to their actions in Sunday’s 2-0 loss against Colorado.
The more questionable of the calls was the straight red on Pérez, who was shown the door for a studs-up attempt at a loose ball that ended up clipping Rapids defender Drew Moor.
“I don’t think it was anything intentional,” FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said of Perez’s tackle. “I think two players were protecting themselves going into a ball. It is what it is.”
FC Dallas finished the game with nine men for only the fourth time in franchise history and had two players suspended in the first half for the first time ever. Both players will miss Wednesday’s home tilt against Seattle (8:30 pm ET, watch LIVE online).
Shea held out
As reported last week, midfielder Brek Shea was feeling exhausted and battling turf toe. As a result, the US national-teamer was held out of Sunday’s match.
“He got a turf toe and he’s been working his way through it,” Hyndman said after the game. “This week he didn’t train. With the three games coming up this week, it was really hard to not be able to count on him for the next two. So we did the safe thing and gave him a little bit of a break.”
Shea is expected be available Wednesday vs. Seattle, and FC Dallas will now need to rely heavily on the star midfield without Pérez and Hernandez.
FC Dallas may have been without Shea, but the team welcomed back goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who missed the last three games due to back spasms. The veteran finished the game with seven saves but allowed two goals.
“He did real well,” Hyndman said after the match. “Kevin’s our No. 1 [goalkeeper].”
Marcelin debuts
Former Portland Timbers man James Marcelin was thrust into the fray in Sunday’s loss after joining the team just last week. The newly acquired midfielder came on for Scott Sealy in the second half and largely had to fill in for the departed Hernandez.
“He did fine,” Hyndman said after the match. “It’s a difficult game and he hadn’t been playing a lot up in Portland but we needed somebody in there for Daniel.”
With Hernandez suspended, Marcelin could see another opportunity come his way as soon as Wednesday.
HIGHLIGHTS: FC Dallas 0, Colorado 2
