FRISCO, Texas—After a relatively quiet opening act, Saturday's second half against Sporting Kansas City proved an emotional roller coaster for FC Dallas.
Both teams managed to score twice in a 10-minute span between the 66th and 76th minute – a frenzied stretch in which FC Dallas took a lead, allowed Kansas City's Dom Dwyer to score an equalizer and go-ahead goal, and then come back to salvage a point with a 2-2 draw that ran their club-record home unbeaten streak to 18 matches.
It left head coach Oscar Pareja in a back-and-forth state of pride and disappointment.
“Unfortunately we lost concentration in the next 10 minutes after we scored that first goal,” Pareja said. “And I’m going to say it – I’m not going to blame these guys. It has been an exhausting week. But I want to keep highlighting the way they came back to the game, because they were this close to winning it.
“For me, it’s another sweet night with just one point.”
Pareja rolled out a very similar lineup to the one he used in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over the LA Galaxy in the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, showing once again that FCD – who needed a late comeback in extra time to advance – won’t ease up when the potential for silverware is there.
“I can’t praise my players enough after such a good game they played during the week – 120 minutes – and end up tonight with such energy and pushing the game that much, playing with their heart,” Pareja said. “For me, it means much more than anything. “
But even after securing that point, the Supporters Shield leaders did miss a handful of chances, nbsp;some from short range, to take all three.
“We had so many chances that I think we’ve got to be disappointed we didn’t win at the end of it,” said Tesho Akindele, who opened the scoring with a 66th-minute header just four minutes after coming on as a sub.
Though the chances didn’t turn into a victory, Maxi Urruti's bicycle-kick equalizer ensured that when FC Dallas host Portland on September 3, they will have played more than a full calendar year without losing at home.
“Fortress Frisco, like they say, right?” Akindele said. “Every team comes here, and I think they’re afraid to be here. You see that they sit back a little more, and I think we’re going to continue winning. We have a good mindset when we play at home.”
