Revenge almost seemed like a thing of destiny throughout the early stages of FC Dallas’ rematch against the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Good Park on Friday evening.
After all, talented but oft-injured midfielder Mauro Diaz recorded his first goal of what has been a frustrating season so far for the young Argentine to give the Hoops a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute.
And for the first time all season, Dallas saw former Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy between the posts after battling with Chris Seitz throughout the young season and suffering a handful of early setbacks, including a back injury that lingered over the last few weeks.
But after a red card was issued to Blas Perez in the 59th minute for contact off the ball, Dallas were unable to fulfill the revenge they sought after a 4-0 beatdown just two weeks ago at Toyota Stadium and settled for a 1-1 draw in the rubber match of the season series between the teams.
“I’m kind of upset we didn’t get the full three points, but it’s good to come away with a point considering the situation,” Dallas defender Zach Loyd said after the game.
Dallas played a much more conservative game throughout than they have much of the season, routinely dropping back much throughout the first half. Considering they gave up four goals just two weeks ago to Colorado, the strategy was hardly surprising.
“We chose to drop the line and the pressure and the zone. We didn’t want to look for pressuring up front,” head coach Oscar Pareja said. “We wanted the central backs to have the ball. We knew we could hurt them with the speed we have in transition.”
But after Perez’s ejection, the club was forced to bunker down even more for the final 30-plus minutes, which eventually led to a Nick LaBrocca equalizer in the 79th minute despite an impressive debut for Kennedy that included four saves.
So when the club was forced to settle for one point instead of what looked like three up until Dallas’ second red card of the season, Pareja and his squad were not too disappointed with the result.
“We had the three points in our pocket, [but] after the ejection of Blas, I knew it was going to be difficult,” Pareja said. “But at the end, I think it is a point that is going to count a lot in the end.”
