For about 80 minutes on Saturday afternoon, it looked like Brek Shea’s 13th-minute goal would be the game-winner for FC Dallas in Philadelphia.
But an equalizer from the Union’s Danny Mwanga in stoppage time turned Shea’s possible game-winner into something completely different.
“Obviously we’re ahead for 80 minutes or something like that and then you lose, at least it felt like a loss,” Shea said. “They tied it up with 20 seconds left.”
Still, Shea’s first MLS goal wasn’t lost on FCD coach Schellas Hyndman, who praised the third-year youngster who rocketed from high school to the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.
“I think it was a tremendous goal,” Hyndman said. “What a way to start your MLS goal scoring career on a pretty goal like that, not a tap-in goal or a goal that hits off you. I thought it was a quality goal. What I’m hoping for is this kind of breaks the ice and it becomes a little bit easier as much as a confidence builder.”
WATCH: Shea tallies first MLS goal
Shea’s first MLS tally indeed was a special one. After passes from Jeff Cunningham and Atiba Harris put the Union defense on their heels, Shea coolly juked Philadelphia defender Cristian Arrieta near the top of the penalty box before blasting a right-footed shot past Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz.
“Atiba [Harris] played me the ball outside the 18. I took a few steps forward and saw the defender committed,” Shea said. So I cut in and just tried to put it back post with my right foot and it went in.”
Besides Shea’s solid finish with his right foot, the best play of the sequence might have come when Cunningham held possession long enough to find Harris, who got the primary assist on the goal.
“Jeff had like four guys around him. He turned some out,” Shea said. “I think Jeff is underrated for some of the things he does by not only with his scoring. He creates chances out of nothing. A clear ball he can turn into a golden goal scoring opportunity. Him getting the ball with four guys around him and turning, not just anybody can do that.”
After it took him 27 games to find the back of the net for the first time, Shea definitely hopes it won’t be as long before he scores his second goal.
“Yeah, as an attacking player, you always hope so. I feel like I should have gotten my goal a long time ago but I never did,” he said. “That’s just soccer. I got the first one and hope that coming up, I’ll get more.”
