WASHINGTON, D.C. -– FC Dallas (5-2-1, 16 points) dropped a 4-1 decision to D.C. United last Saturday at RFK Stadium.
Dallas had taken a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute on a goal scored by Mauro Daiz but the side was reduced to 10 men when Zach Loyd was shown his second caution of the match in the 39th minute. D.C. United’s Fabian Espindola took advantage, scoring two goals and an assist to hand Dallas only its second loss of the season.
FC Dallas’ goal came first and was a thing of beauty. Left back Jair Benitez started the play by knocking the ball down the left flank to Fabian Castillo. The young Colombian cut back and delivered a ball into the area for Blas Perez, who first-timed a pass back into the center of the area for Diaz. The Argentine playmaker faked a first-touch shot, which got a D.C. United defender to go to ground. Diaz cut right, around his defender and beat D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid to his right side to give FC Dallas a 1-0 lead.
D.C. United stormed back with play down its own left flank in the 17th minute. A deflected cross fell to the feet of Espindola, who put a perfect ball into the area for Eddie Johnson. The U.S. National Team forward looked destined to score, but FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz arrived just in time to punch the ball up in the air. Both players collided on the play, sending Seitz to the turf, but the 6-4 goalkeeper had the presence of mind to keep track of the ball, which feet straight into his hands as he lay on the ground.
United was on the attack again in the 32nd minute, when a ball crossed to the back post was headed away by FC Dallas right back Zach Loyd. The loose ball fell to the top of the box, where Davy Arnaud had a try at the volley. The midfielder struck the ball into the ground, but kept his shot on goal. The bouncing ball caromed towards the far post but Seitz arrived just in time to slap the ball away with a diving left-handed save.
The match turned in the 39th minute when referee Fotis Bazakos showed Loyd his second caution of the match for a slide tackle on Arnaud in the center of the pitch. The call forced FC Dallas to play a man down for the reminder of the match.
D.C. United took advantage of the additional manpower and made it a 1-1 game in the fifth minute of stoppage-time of the first half. Once again, the play started out wide with a role reversal of the attack in the 17th minute. Johnson came out wide to accept a pass, turned with the ball, and knocked a perfect cross to the far post for Espindola, who finished with a diving header past Seitz.
FC Dallas made two subs around halftime, bringing on additional defensive-minded players Adam Moffat and Andrew Jacobson but United made it 2-1 in the 60th minute when a cross in from the right flank was struck hard on goal by Jeff Parke. Seitz made an amazing left-handed save to keep the ball out of the back of the net, but the rebound came to Bobby Boswell at the top of the box and the center back did not hesitate to crack a shot just inside the left post.
D.C. United added a third goal in the 64th minute. The play began with Espindola on the left flank. The Argentine snuck past two defenders and chipped a pretty ball into the area that was finished crispy by right back Sean Franklin
The home side continued to pour it on in the 69th minute, when Chris Rolfe got the ball to Espindola once again. Sprinting through the area, Espindola accepted the pass in stride and knocked a low shot just inside the post to Seitz’s left side to give United the three-goal victory.
Scoring Summary:
DAL – Mauro Diaz (Blas Perez, Fabian Castillo) 13
DCU – Fabian Espindola (Eddie Johnson, Nick DeLeon) 45+5
DCU – Bobby Boswell 60
DCU – Sean Franklin (Fabian Espindola) 64
DCU – Fabian Espindola (Chris Rolfe) 69
Dallas had taken a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute on a goal scored by Mauro Daiz but the side was reduced to 10 men when Zach Loyd was shown his second caution of the match in the 39th minute. D.C. United’s Fabian Espindola took advantage, scoring two goals and an assist to hand Dallas only its second loss of the season.
FC Dallas’ goal came first and was a thing of beauty. Left back Jair Benitez started the play by knocking the ball down the left flank to Fabian Castillo. The young Colombian cut back and delivered a ball into the area for Blas Perez, who first-timed a pass back into the center of the area for Diaz. The Argentine playmaker faked a first-touch shot, which got a D.C. United defender to go to ground. Diaz cut right, around his defender and beat D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid to his right side to give FC Dallas a 1-0 lead.
D.C. United stormed back with play down its own left flank in the 17th minute. A deflected cross fell to the feet of Espindola, who put a perfect ball into the area for Eddie Johnson. The U.S. National Team forward looked destined to score, but FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz arrived just in time to punch the ball up in the air. Both players collided on the play, sending Seitz to the turf, but the 6-4 goalkeeper had the presence of mind to keep track of the ball, which feet straight into his hands as he lay on the ground.
United was on the attack again in the 32nd minute, when a ball crossed to the back post was headed away by FC Dallas right back Zach Loyd. The loose ball fell to the top of the box, where Davy Arnaud had a try at the volley. The midfielder struck the ball into the ground, but kept his shot on goal. The bouncing ball caromed towards the far post but Seitz arrived just in time to slap the ball away with a diving left-handed save.
The match turned in the 39th minute when referee Fotis Bazakos showed Loyd his second caution of the match for a slide tackle on Arnaud in the center of the pitch. The call forced FC Dallas to play a man down for the reminder of the match.
D.C. United took advantage of the additional manpower and made it a 1-1 game in the fifth minute of stoppage-time of the first half. Once again, the play started out wide with a role reversal of the attack in the 17th minute. Johnson came out wide to accept a pass, turned with the ball, and knocked a perfect cross to the far post for Espindola, who finished with a diving header past Seitz.
FC Dallas made two subs around halftime, bringing on additional defensive-minded players Adam Moffat and Andrew Jacobson but United made it 2-1 in the 60th minute when a cross in from the right flank was struck hard on goal by Jeff Parke. Seitz made an amazing left-handed save to keep the ball out of the back of the net, but the rebound came to Bobby Boswell at the top of the box and the center back did not hesitate to crack a shot just inside the left post.
D.C. United added a third goal in the 64th minute. The play began with Espindola on the left flank. The Argentine snuck past two defenders and chipped a pretty ball into the area that was finished crispy by right back Sean Franklin
The home side continued to pour it on in the 69th minute, when Chris Rolfe got the ball to Espindola once again. Sprinting through the area, Espindola accepted the pass in stride and knocked a low shot just inside the post to Seitz’s left side to give United the three-goal victory.
Scoring Summary:
DAL – Mauro Diaz (Blas Perez, Fabian Castillo) 13
DCU – Fabian Espindola (Eddie Johnson, Nick DeLeon) 45+5
DCU – Bobby Boswell 60
DCU – Sean Franklin (Fabian Espindola) 64
DCU – Fabian Espindola (Chris Rolfe) 69
