A pair of teams coming off midweek success in the CONCACAF Champions League meet at Pizza Hut Park when FC Dallas play host to Seattle Sounders FC. FC Dallas made history on Wednesday, defeating Pumas in Mexico City. They are coming off a 2-2 draw in Philadelphia in league play. Sounders FC started their CCL campaign with a 4-1 home win against Guatemala’s Comunicaciones; they played Chivas USA to a 0-0 draw at home last weekend in MLS.
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REFEREE: David Gantar. SAR (bench): Philippe Briere; JAR (opposite): Anthony Vasoli; 4th: Tyler Ploeger
MLS Career: 7 games; FC/gm: 24.3; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 3; pens: 1
INJURY REPORT:FC DALLAS – OUT: DF Edson Edward (R knee ACL tear); MF David Ferreira (R ankle); FW Maykel Galindo (R hamstring strain) …
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC – OUT: MF Steve Zakuani (R leg fracture); QUESTIONABLE: FW O’Brian White (leg surgery)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: DAL: George John (through Aug. 21)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: DAL: George John, Andrew Jacobson … SEA: Servando Carrasco, Tyson Wahl
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: DAL: Marvin Chavez, Daniel Hernandez, Ugo Ihemelu, Zach Loyd, Brek Shea … SEA: Osvaldo Alonso, Alvaro Fernandez, Erik Friberg, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Fredy Montero, James Riley
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (5 meetings): FC Dallas 1 win, 6 goals … Sounders FC 1 win, 6 goals … Ties 3
AT PIZZA HUT PARK (2 meetings): FC Dallas 0 wins, 3 goals … Sounders FC 0 wins, 3 goals … Ties 2
• Brek Shea scored in the 18th minute to lead FC Dallas to a 1-0 victory in the first meeting this season, May 25 in Seattle.
• This year’s FCD win was the first in the series since a 2-1 Seattle win at Qwest Field on the final day of the 2009 season that knocked FC Dallas out of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
• Coaches record: Schellas Hyndman vs. SEA: P5 W1 L1 D3 … Sigi Schmid v DAL: P30 W12 L8 D10
LAST MEETING (MLS)
5/25: SEA 0, DAL 1 (Shea 17)
• The game's lone goal came in the 17th minute. Andrew Jacobson slotted a pass through the heart of the Sounders FC defense, perfectly into the stride of Brek Shea, and he finished calmly past Kasey Keller inside the right post.
• Kevin Hartman had four saves as Sounders FC uncorked a season-high in shots, but FC Dallas extended their shutout streak to a then-club record 489 minutes.
• SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (4-1-3-2): Kasey Keller - Zach Scott, Jeff Parke, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez - Osvaldo Alonso - Erik Friberg, Mauro Rosales (Lamar Neagle 83), Alvaro Fernandez (Roger Levesque 64) - Fredy Montero (Nate Jaqua 75), Mike Fucito.
• FC DALLAS (4-1-4-1): Kevin Hartman - Jackson Goncalves, George John, Ugo Ihemelu, Zach Loyd - Daniel Hernandez - Eric Alexander (Bobby Warshaw 74), Marvin Chavez (Ricardo Villar 91+), Andrew Jacobson, Brek Shea - Fabian Castillo (Ruben Luna 64)
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas remained on the road and came away with a 2-2 tie with Philadelphia Union on Saturday evening at PPL Park. FCD has 43 points from 24 games on the season, in second place in the Western Conference.
LAST MATCH
• FC Dallas took the lead in the 16th minute through newcomer Maicon Santos. Union center back Carlos Valdés failed to deal with a bouncing ball and Santos nipped in behind him, floating his shot over goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón from outside the area.
• But the home side pulled even in the 34th minute when Justin Mapp ran onto a ball played over the top by Sebastien Le Toux and was hauled down in the area by FCD defender George John. Le Toux then sent FCD goalkeeper Kevin Hartman the wrong way in converting from the spot.
• Yet in first half stoppage time, FC Dallas again nosed in front. Sprung by a tremendous through ball from Santos, Marvin Chavez was in alone on Mondragón and put the ball between his legs toward goal. But the ball came off the post -- but Brek Shea was first to it to tap into the empty net.
• FC Dallas were reduced to 10 men when John was sent off in the 81st minute, and Union again capitalized, this time with four minutes to play, again from the penalty spot. Union left back Gabriel Farfan was taken down in the box by Dallas substitute Jackson, and Le Toux again stepped up to knock home the penalty.
• FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman made no changes to the team that went down to a 3-1 defeat to the LA Galaxy at The Home Depot Center.
• FC DALLAS (4-2-3-1): Kevin Hartman - Zach Loyd, George John (sent off 81), Ugo Ihemelu, Jair Benitez - Daniel Hernandez (Jackson 67), Bruno Guarda (Daniel Cruz 72) - Marvin Chavez (Andrew Jacobson 83), Ricardo Villar, Brek Shea - Maicon Santos.
TEAM NEWS
• After a month of July where FC Dallas went 5-1-2 in all competitions to solidify their place in the standings and also qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League, they’ve started August with a loss and a draw.
• “It’s one of those things that Schellas (Hyndman) alluded to prior to the match. He said that usually the teams that do well in the playoffs are the teams that finish the last 10 games strong,” said goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. “We wanted to make sure that we have the right attitude and the right momentum going into the playoffs and try to solidify playoff position and make sure that we’re firing on all cylinders when the time comes.
• If he starts in goal vs. Seattle, Hartman can become the league leader in career games played. . Hartman, who debuted with a shutout victory for the Galaxy on his 23rd birthday in 1997, would pass Steve Ralston with his 379th league appearance.
• “It’s certainly an important time of the season: we have a big number of games. We had eight games last month and we’ll have eight games this month,” said Hartman. “It’s fatiguing and we have to make sure that we’re responsible with our bodies and use the depth of our bench and go out there with the right attitude to persevere through some difficult circumstances like (vs. LA).
• Making his second consecutive start as the spearhead in attack since arriving in a trade with Toronto FC, Maicon Santos scored his first FC Dallas goal.
• “I think he’s one of the better strikers that we’ve had at FC Dallas since I’ve been there,” Hyndman said, “and we’ve had Kenny Cooper and we had Jeff Cunningham – both that went on to win the Golden Boot. I think Maicon is a very intelligent player. I think he’s going to be very good for our team. He’s the one piece that we’ve been missing.”
• On Wednesday, FC Dallas made history, defeating Pumas UNAM 1-0 to open CONCACAF Champions League group play and becoming the first MLS team to come away from Mexico with a victory in official competition. Marvin Chavez scored the lone goal after 66 minutes.
• Here’s the FC Dallas team: Kevin Hartman, Zach Loyd, George John, Ugo Ihemelu, Jair Benitez, Marvin Chavez, Daniel Cruz (Eric Alexander 83), Ricardo Villar (Andrew Jacobson 77), Daniel Hernandez, Brek Shea, Jackson (Fabian Castillo 67).
• “I’ll tell you the first man who broke the four-minute mile was a man named Roger Bannister. The next week, I think another six people broke the four-minute mile… because they believed in it,” said Hyndman. “For us, for the first team to beat a good Mexican team in Mexico, I hope that more MLS teams will have the same courage to play good soccer and I hope that we continue to find success here.”
• Prior to the match, MLS teams were 0-19-4 in Mexico in CONCACAF Champions Cup/League play, and in all competitions they were 1-21-4, the one victory coming in a forfeit.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Seattle Sounders FC gained a second consecutive result, playing to a scoreless draw with Chivas USA on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field. Sounders FC have 42 points from 25 games on the season, sitting in third place in the Western Conference.
LAST MATCH
• Sounders FC had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring in the 19th minute when Fernandez earned a penalty after knocking the ball off Chivas defender Michael Umaña's arm. But his effort from his own spot kick came back off the left post.
• Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy was called upon to make just two saves from 10 total Seattle attempts at goal, including another on Fernandez from point-blank range in the 77th minute. Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller made three saves.
• Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid made two changes to the team that came back for a 2-1 win against Sporting Kansas City at Livestrong Sporting Park. Erik Friberg came into the midfield for Servando Carrasco, and Pat Noonan started up top in place of Roger Levesque.
• SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (4-4-2): Kasey Keller - James Riley, Zach Scott, Jeff Parke, Tyson Wahl - Mauro Rosales, Erik Friberg, Osvaldo Alonso, Alvaro Fernandez - Fredy Montero (Lamar Neagle 83), Pat Noonan (Nate Jaqua 69).
TEAM NEWS
• After allowing nine goals in the previous four league games – including a season-high three in back-to-back games – Sounders FC kept a clean sheet for the first time since a scoreless draw with LA on July 4.
• “I thought our defensive effort was good. We really only got exposed one time on the save that Kasey [Keller] made in the first half on a nice little touch by Alejandro [Moreno],” said Seattle head coach Sigi Schmid. “Outside of that, I thought we were a lot better defensively. It just didn't go in at the other end."
• Pat Noonan started alongside Fredy Montero in attack, his first start in an MLS game since midway through the 2010 season.
• "I thought he played well. I thought he played well against the Panamanian team, San Francisco. I thought he did some good things holding the ball up for us. He's a smart player. He needs to stay high,” said Schmid. “He had a couple chances in the first half on headers. He made some good slashing runs in there. Whenever you can get him on the field, it helps your team."
• Over the course of their MLS history, Sounders FC have been awarded penalty kicks on 10 occasions – they have converted just five.
• "I don't think the problem had to do with the strength. It was more about the direction,” said Alvaro Fernandez. I shot right into the post, it bounced back on the keeper and out. That's how penalties go. It was not kicked that badly, but it cost us two points."
• With Jhon Kennedy Hurtado held out for another game, Zach Scott made back-to-back starts in league games in the back four for the first time this season.
• "Zach gives you endeavor and energy and effort. He's been solid about winning his aerial duels,” Schmid said. “It's about winning those 50/50 balls and Zach gives you that. If you can do that, it gives you possession of the ball and allows you to do things."
• On Tuesday, Sounders FC got their CONCACAF Champions League started off on the right foot with a 4-1 win against Guatemala’s CSD Comunicaciones at CenturyLink Field. Despite allowing a goal after just two minutes to Jairo Arriola, and seeing Lamar Neagle sent off in the 55th minute, Sounders FC pulled even first through a goal from Brad Evans (35), then Mike Fucito scored twice in six minutes while a man down (61, 67) before a late own goal sealed the victory.
• Here’s the Sounders FC team: Terry Boss, James Riley, Patrick Ianni (Roger Levesque 84), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez (Zach Scott 75), Lamar Neagle, Servando Carrasco, Brad Evans, Alvaro Fernandez, Fredy Montero (Mauro Rosales 63), Mike Fucito
• “I thought our team showed a lot of character to come back again from 1-0. Being 1-1 and having a player ejected and playing a man down and being able to score two goals showed a little bit more,” Schmid said. “I thought we did a good job attacking. ... I was pleased with our ability to finish our chances today."
