BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Andrew Dykstra knows this season will have its ups and downs.
Unfortunately for the Fire’s 24-year-old keeper, who is currently in the middle of his first season as a MLS starter, one of those low points came in last Saturday’s crucial match against the Eastern Conference leading Columbus Crew – a match the Fire went on to lose 2-1.
Dykstra’s forgettable moment came in the 43rd minute. After racing off of his line to collect a dangerous ball in the box, Dykstra – who had gone to ground – collided with Crew forward Jason Garey and fumbled the ball into the path of Columbus midfielder Andrew Moffat. Moffat promptly buried his chance, sliding the ball into the empty net to give Columbus a 1-0 advantage. (WATCH)
“I went in and had a collision and as [Garey] was coming off the ball he took my top hand off so my force just kind of carried the ball onto [Moffat] who just happened to be there,” Dykstra said on Tuesday. “Had he not been standing there somebody might’ve said ‘good save,’ but you know I got chewed out a little bit. It’s something that I’ve just got to make sure I go in stronger next time and whether he hits me or not make sure I keep the ball.”
Dykstra said that his fumble of the ball won’t negatively affect his confidence.
“It’s my first year,” Dykstra said. “I have a long way to go, I have a lot to learn, and I learn from it and clean the slate and get ready for the next one.”
Dykstra’s next chance comes Thursday night, when the Fire host offensive powerhouse Real Salt Lake in the ESPN MLS Game of the Week.
