FRISCO, Texas – When Scott Sealy signed with FC Dallas for the 2012 season, there were two clear goals for the 31-year-old forward after two injury-riddled seasons in San Jose: provide some leadership for the FCD Homegrown forwards and get through the season healthy.
With four games remaining – plus a potential playoff run – Sealy can look at 2012 as mission accomplished.
“Scott comes out every day with a great work ethic,” head coach Schellas Hyndman said. “He comes out and works hard. He tries to really be a positive person and that’s hard when you’re a senior player and not getting a lot of playing time. So I really appreciate his focus, his character and his attitude of, ‘Coach, I’ll do whatever you need me to do.’”
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Despite what Hyndman said about his limited playing time, the truth is the Trinidad and Tobago international forward has seen more time on the field in 2012 than he has in quite some time. Sealy’s eight starts, ironically brought on by a partial injury crisis, are the most he’s had in the league since 2008 and his next game will be his 15th appearance this season.
“This year was all about trying to be healthy and making it through the whole season,” Sealy told MLSsoccer.com “Obviously I didn’t have the start I wanted because I got injured after having a very good preseason ... but it all fell into place with David [Ferreira] coming back and getting in a rhythm.”
Things have fallen into place nicely for Sealy during the past two months, as his first two goals in MLS since 2008 aided an FC Dallas side in the midst of a minor miracle run back into the Western Conference playoff picture.
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“He’s a player that gives us everything on the field,” Hyndman said. “It doesn’t matter if he’s in for one minute or he’s in for 90 minutes. He gives us everything.”
From a leadership standpoint, Sealy showed his merits in an MLS Reserve League game three weeks ago. The forward was only on the bench as an emergency substitute after playing 90 minutes two days earlier in a club friendly, but when Jonathan Top suffered a twisted ankle in the 21st minute, Sealy was called upon. He eventually scored the 64th-minute game winner to earn the reserves a victory over Colorado.
“Obviously, it’s a different level of play when you get into the first team, but the reserve games are there to make sure you stay sharp,” Sealy said. “So when you do get your opportunities like I did in the Vancouver game, I’m ready to play and bring some energy.”
