What began as a colorless, cautious contest changed into a travesty on the finish, as referee Mark Geiger needlessly whistled Vancouver for a penalty within the 83rd minute and gifted FC Dallas the win.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
October 30, 2014
9:45 AM
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IT WAS NOT A PRETTY GAME. In actual fact it was downright ugly at occasions. Thanks to some spells of high quality play from its kids, nonetheless, and a really controversial penalty name late within the second half, FC Dallas defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 within the opening spherical of the MLS playoffs.
FC Dallas will journey to Seattle to play the Sounders on Sunday (9pm ET, ESPN2) whereas the Whitecaps will return house feeling cheated by Mark Geiger, a referee who had a powerful exhibiting on the 2014 World Cup however who has struggled in MLS since then.
Nothing in regards to the match will discover its approach right into a Main League Soccer promotional marketing campaign.
The primary half lacked movement as each groups appeared decided to keep away from main errors. Vancouver, specifically, was significantly inept offensively and relied closely on ineffective lengthy balls into the attacking half. There have been few clear probabilities for both staff till the fortieth minute when FC Dallas took benefit of a positional breakdown to get on the scoreboard.
On the play, each of Vancouver’s central defenders had been caught on the left aspect of the sphere and Kendall Watson was unsuccessful in his problem on Mauro Diaz. Diaz shortly fed Tesho Akindele on the suitable aspect who hit an ideal low shot previous Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted for a 1-0 lead.
Within the second half, Vancouver got here to life and commenced taking the sport to Dallas. The guests’ first good likelihood got here within the forty seventh minute when Mauro Rosales hit a robust and bending free kick from 30 yards out that rattled the crossbar. Then, within the sixtieth minute, Dallas keeper Chris Seitz made an enormous save on Kekuta Manneh from shut vary.
The equalizer got here within the sixty fourth minute when a Vancouver lengthy free kick from Rosales landed within the field. After a poor clearance, the ball fell to Erik Hurtado whose deflected shot slipped previous Seitz for a deserved equalizer.
Whereas Vancouver was the higher staff within the second half, a harsh penalty name proved to be the decisive second within the contest. Within the 83rd minute Geiger whistled Watson for a handball within the field. There have been no attackers close to the ball and the ball and no menace on purpose because the bounced as much as hit Watson’s hand—which was at his aspect—however Geiger pointed to the spot and unleashed a fury of protests on the pitch and throughout the Web.
On the following penalty, Michel approached the ball with tantalizing deliberation after which buried his left-footed shot as Ousted dove within the improper path.
The win over Vancouver was removed from excellent because the Whitecaps had been in a position to management lengthy stretches of the second half. Nonetheless, there are many causes for Dallas to be happy with its efficiency. For one, the younger gamers on the roster rose to the event. Particularly, Akindele and Diaz confirmed their class on the opening purpose.
That stated, Dallas might want to step up its recreation because it prepares for Seattle. Akindele and Diaz delivered high quality performances they will construct on, which is a giant optimistic for FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja. So too did defenders Walker Zimmerman and captain Matt Hedges, though Seattle’s huge three—Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey, and Lamar Neagle—are sure to pose a a lot greater problem than something Vancouver provided up.
One potential key: Fabian Castillo. The Colombian attacker had a couple of high quality moments within the first half—significantly one memorable event when he dribbled round Jordan Harvey to create an opportunity—however the 22-year-old might want to elevate his recreation if Dallas goes to face an opportunity in opposition to the Supporters’ Defend winners on Sunday.
