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Texeira double powers FC Dallas past Sounders

David Texeira FC Dallas (USA Today Sports)

Photo by Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports Images

 

FC Dallas went into Wednesday night’s showdown with the Seattle Sounders looking to secure their own place in the MLS playoffs. One emphatic victory later, and FC Dallas look ready to do more than just squeeze into the postseason.

Powered by a pair of David Texeira goals, FC Dallas topped the Seattle Sounders, 3-1, on Wednesday night. Texeira scored goals in each half, while Blas Perez headed home an insurance tally late in the Western Conference clash.

The victory moved FC Dallas to within a point of Real Salt Lake for third place in the West, while the defeat gave Seattle it’s first losing streak of any length this season, coming on the heels of Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls.

Playing without injured speedster Fabian Castillo, FC Dallas finished its chances well, with Texeira opening the scoring with an eighth-minute strike.

Seattle had the better of the play for most of the match, but failed to create dangerous chances to test FC Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.

The Sounders finally broke through in the 58th minute when Lamar Neagle, who had come into the match as a substitute just one minute earlier, blasted a long-range right-footed shot into the top corner, past Fernandez, to tie the match.

The Sounders looked like they might take control after Neagle’s goal, but Texeira gave FC Dallas the lead back in the 78th minute when he finished off a sequence sparked by a mazy run from Andres Escobar, who helped fill the void left by Castillo’s absence by running at Seattle’s defense and setting up Texeira for the winning goal.

Perez capped the victory with an 88th-minute header that marked FC Dallas’ first victory against the Sounders this season after two previous losses.

The Sounders will look to rebound with a victory against lowly Chivas USA on Saturday, while FC Dallas take on struggling Vancouver on Saturday.

Here are the match highlights:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgKwCTi_7xs?list=UUSZbXT5TLLW_i-5W8FZpFsg]

Comments

      • Pineda got injured in the match against RBNY and wasn’t included in the substitutions list.

        Neagle has started a lot this season, but it should be noted that he’s kind of been starting in place of preferred starters who are injured, away for national team duty, or being rested.

  1. Overheard in every Seattle opponent’s team meeting:

    COACH: Okay, here’s our game plan: pass the ball to Traore.

    PLAYER: But Coach, Troare doesn’t play for us, he plays for the Sounders.

    COACH: Shhh! We know that, but Djimi is still trying to figure that out….

    Reply
  2. Perhaps I was too harsh in rushing to judgment on Texeira…I was ready to dump him as soon as the season ended to free up that DP slot. I still might be, with as well as Tesho has been doing, but persistent performances like this may change my mind.

    Glad to see Hedges back, it will be a crime if we don’t see him called into the January camp.

    Reply
  3. Okay I think this win shows you how well Pareja has them playing. This FCD teams looks great but even more impressive is the fact that they play hard every single game; even in thier losses. If they get healthy, I think they could make a deep run in the playoffs.Definitely not a team you want to play in playoff battle. Theyre a hard nose bunch of guys.

    Pareja COY.

    Reply
  4. The Sounders could be in the late season swoon, but I will wait and see because when they play Saturday it will have been 5 matches in 15 days, including 120 minutes to win a trophy. On the road for the last 10 days which not suprisingly has led to a lack of sharpness in D.
    While I would have preferred a point or two from the last two matches, i’ll take the trophy if the last two matches were a cup hangover

    If they don’t win against Chivas then there could be issues.

    Reply
    • Man, I couldn’t disagree more.

      I think the issue is that Chivas is the auto win. Goal scoring against the teams they need to beat is Neagle from 35-40 yards.

      Supporters Shield maybe, probably still a good shot. MLS Cup VERY much less likely.

      Reply
      • I tend to think Vancouver will be the real test. Thankfully LA have a bigger test with Dallas, NY, and us twice vs Colorado, Chivas, Vancouver, then LA. I have a feeling the SS would be more in order due to our schedule. No matter I am nervous

    • cup hangover is exactly what it is, plus they have gone up against two really motivated teams. Seattle didn’t look bad last night, Dallas’ goals where really good.

      Reply
    • “On the road for the last 10 days which not suprisingly has led to a lack of sharpness in D.”

      Seattle’s poor D is what has led to a lack of sharpness in D. Marshall is awesome, Yedlin is good, and it goes down from there.

      Reply
      • Scott and Traore are old. Scott going down early didn’t help. Apam could help, but I highly doubt he will have much impact (or minutes) this year. That is our weakness, that second CB.

      • SteveE, true. So how to replace Scott in the next match?

        I would not use Traore (well, okay, maybe against Chivas). I would put Evans at CB next to Marshall and bring Neagle on to start in midfield.

      • It will be Traore. Apam doesn’t have his visa yet I want to say (plus no time with the team). Just gotta hope the injury isn’t too bad for Scott

  5. This was a great game. Free-flowing attacking soccer with a great amount of skill and creativity from both teams. Sounders were wonderful to watch, but Dallas was clinical on the counter attack. Those unsure about MLS need to watch this match. (IMHO, of course!)

    Reply

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