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FC Dallas continues shutout streak, Shea scores lone goal in win over Seattle

Shea (Getty Images)


By CALEB SONNELAND

As the rain fell for the third straight game day in Seattle, FC Dallas held its ground to sneak a 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field through a first-half Brek Shea goal. The goal, Shea's fourth of the season, helped Dallas stretch its unbeaten streak to seven games, while Seattle finished a three-game homestand at 1-1-1 having only scored two goals.

FC Dallas kept the same starting lineup that drew Real Salt Lake over the weekend and turned in its fifth consecutive shutout. Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman's shutout streak is now at 489 minutes, the longest in MLS this season.

The Sounders welcomed Erik Friberg back to the starting XI, as the Swede took up the right side of the midfield for Seattle. Coach Sigi Schmid also swapped fullbacks James Riley and Tyson Wahl in favor of Zach Scott and Leo Gonzalez, and Mike Fucito completed the changes as he got the nod ahead of Roger Levesque up top.

Shea, the team's leading scorer, gave Dallas all the offense it would need in the 18th minute. He was found by a great ball in midfield from Andrew Jacobson, and he clipped it over an on-rushing Kasey Keller to give his team the lead and his fourth goal of the season.

Seattle responded well to going down a goal and pressed hard through Fucito, who was a handful for the Dallas back line all half. The Harvard product had several attempts on goal, one of which was cleared off the line by George John with Hartman beat.

"I was very pleased with the effort of Fucito, I thought he played really well," Schmid said after the game.

The home side continued to probe for an equalizer, but the Dallas defense held strong throughout and took a 1-0 lead into the break. The scoreline was perhaps a bit unkind to Seattle, but Dallas did create enough chances to deserve their goal.  

Unchanged at the half, the Sounders came out energized and looked to get on the score sheet in the opening minutes of the second period, but nothing came to fruition and Dallas worked its way back into the half.

Despite enjoying the lion's share of possession, Seattle couldn't find a way past Hartman, who was immense in net all night for Dallas and pulled off a great double save on Fucito and Fredy Montero in the 66th minute to keep his shutout streak alive.

Seattle had two penalty claims late in the half, but referee Baldomero Toledo was having none of it as Friberg and Fucito looked to have been felled inside the area.

"Toledo is a referee who lets the game go. You're not going to get fouls flopping around the field. Jackson was kicking everyone in sight, but he's not going to call it. But we have to be strong and return it in kind."

The Sounders pressed hard in the closing minutes, but thanks to some resolute defending and  Hartman heroics, FC Dallas held on for the win and another three points as it continues its impressive season.

"The soccer was better, but everybody is more disappointed with the result," Schmid said. "But guys who need to step up, need to step up."  

The Seattle coach was likely referring to the team's Designated Player, Montero, and summarized the striker's night by saying, "He needs to score. End of story. That's what he's paid to do. He's a good enough player, he knows that."

Montero, however, was quick to deflect criticism from his coach.

"What concerns me is the opportunities. I need them," Montero said. "There were no opportunities and that gets me a little sad and annoyed. Hopefully, there will be more opportunities and that is something that can be improved."

Comments

  1. If not for Jeff Parke’s extra time goal, the Sounders would be breaking last year’s record of futility, 270 consecutive scoreless minutes. My guess is that they’ll break it anyway after RSL hands than a goose-egg.

    Seattle and MLS deserve more on the pitch.

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  2. Shea is definetly a rising player. Before the injury Shea was being switched to LB and he looked good with the exception of a few random “I don’t understand the position” mistakes he made each game. Shea is a good player but the one position the US has depth at is Midfield. If Shea can learn LB he will be starting on the national team. Right now Dallas is desperate for offense so He no longer gets work in at LB. I think he could eventualy make the US squad as a midfielder but it will be more dificult.

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  3. Toledo’s favorite weapon was to warn the players verbally. I think he must have talked to #6 for Dallas at least 5 times.

    It was shamful that Dallas started stalling with 10 minutes to go in the first half.

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  4. Toledo sucks. I was watching the game, not knowing who was reffing and thinking, I wonder if it is him.

    It was. That is sad.

    I have the exact opposite view with the comment above, I think Toledo lets WAY more stuff go inside the box than outside the box. Fucito earned 2 PKs that weren’t given. I can see the one on the baseline being ignored, not the one where he would have scored.

    Friberg’s was not a PK, we just booed, because we were mad about the other non-calls.

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  5. Shea’s time on the national team level will come in the future. In the past, he’s had two good games followed by an off game or two. This year, so far, he’s been consistent in his effort and its starting to pay off for him on the score sheet.

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  6. Just a correction from the story, Zach Loyd cleared the ball off the line not George John. Zach has a habit of clearing the ball of the line.

    Shea is playing left wing and there is no way he should be getting called up to the national team now,

    he looked lost out there when he did get the call up. Zach though he will be there in the future

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  7. Where has Shea been playing recently? I know Hyndman has moved him all over the field, so curious to know if he’s back on the wing or if he’s playing up top, in the back…

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  8. I’m sure he’s checking the richter scale at U of W to see if there was a slight tremor the exact moment Fucito struck at goal, thus changing the trajectory of his shot over goal ;(‘

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  9. Injuries this year and the last expansion draft has really hurt team chemistry as well as depth. The sounder may have to Wait till next year to make a run at MLS Cup.

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  10. Lots of possession/no goals. At least the last 10 minutes the sounders were able to apply more consistent pressure, not just long ball and clear over and over.

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  11. At this point Freddie Llumeberg has had the better season for the sounders. (sarcasm- I know Freddie L is with Celtic)

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  12. I’m a big fan, but he looked pretty bad in his call ups. I think this MLS season will be perfect for him to make the leap to big-time player.

    I think it’s best to let him carry the team without Daveeed, then look at him for whatever camp cupcake and beyond opportunities may arise next year.

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  13. Looks like were starting to really see the true depth of this Sounders squad. Defense played well but needs to be tighter, this team isn’t built to win shootouts.

    As a soccer fan in general I thought Toledo did his usual terrible job in the middle. But as a Sounders fan I think he was correct in not giving any PK’s, and he had at least 3-4 opportunities to do so. Bottom line is if you are going to let people get away with it outside the box, you have to let them get away with in inside the box.

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  14. Shea has looked incredibly out of his depth each time he gets called up. I’m no fan of Rogers, but Shea has no business being anywhere near the USMNT.

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  15. As an FCD fan, I’m biased. That said, it’s shocking that someone could call up Rogers over Shea, who is killing it right now. To be honest, I wouldn’t call either of them up, but Shea is playing much better than Rogers.

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  16. tough to handle as a sounders fan. clearly carried the play even before the goal was scored and dallas decided to stop attempting to play. had some really good chances and were denied a legitimate penalty shout. i liked what i saw out of the team though, a good game from us to bad the result wasnt good. it happens sometimes, learn and move on. neagle looked good in his brief appearance.

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