KANSAS CITY (Saturday, March 15) – FC Dallas (1-0-1, 4 points) walked away with a tough road point after Matt Hedges’ 90th minute equalizer delivered a 1-1 draw with defending MLS Cup champion Sporting Kansas City (0-1-1, 1 point) in front of 19,431 fans at Sporting Park Saturday night.
Sporting Kansas City dominated possession for most of the match’s opening frame, but the visitors managed to hold off the attack long enough to regain some balance and begin a push of their own, finally wrestling momentum away in the 33rd minute with their first solid chances of the match after Je-Vaughn Watson sprinted down the wing and cut a perfect diagonal ball back to Mauro Diaz at the top of the box. The play was disrupted by the home side, but it seemed to wake up the Dallas attack, spurring a flurry of opportunities in front of goal over the next few minutes. However, despite 13 combined shots from the two teams in the half, the score stayed at zeros heading into the break.
The home side continued to press in the second half and nearly got on the board in the 65th minute when Sal Zizzo hit a ball near post that deflected off Hedges, but goalkeeper Chris Seitz was able to snag the errant ball before it did any damage. Seitz again showed quick reflexes at the near post in the 80th minute, pawing away a line drive from Seth Sinovic. However, on the ensuing corner kick, Benny Feilhaber picked Aurelien Collin out of the crowd. The French defender rose well above his marker and sent a snap header to the far back post for a 1-0 SKC lead.
FC Dallas continued to push for an equalizer, and, in the waning seconds of regulation, the visitors managed to pull one back on a patented Michel free kick. The Brazilian picked Hedges out far post and the 6’4” defender delivered his first goal of the season to knot the score heading into stoppage time.
Second-half substitute Andy Martinez tested the Dallas defense midway through the four-minute extra time period, but Hedges cleared his shot off the line to preserve the tough point.
FC Dallas returns home to Toyota Stadium on Saturday, March 22, when they take on Chivas USA.
Sporting Kansas City dominated possession for most of the match’s opening frame, but the visitors managed to hold off the attack long enough to regain some balance and begin a push of their own, finally wrestling momentum away in the 33rd minute with their first solid chances of the match after Je-Vaughn Watson sprinted down the wing and cut a perfect diagonal ball back to Mauro Diaz at the top of the box. The play was disrupted by the home side, but it seemed to wake up the Dallas attack, spurring a flurry of opportunities in front of goal over the next few minutes. However, despite 13 combined shots from the two teams in the half, the score stayed at zeros heading into the break.
The home side continued to press in the second half and nearly got on the board in the 65th minute when Sal Zizzo hit a ball near post that deflected off Hedges, but goalkeeper Chris Seitz was able to snag the errant ball before it did any damage. Seitz again showed quick reflexes at the near post in the 80th minute, pawing away a line drive from Seth Sinovic. However, on the ensuing corner kick, Benny Feilhaber picked Aurelien Collin out of the crowd. The French defender rose well above his marker and sent a snap header to the far back post for a 1-0 SKC lead.
FC Dallas continued to push for an equalizer, and, in the waning seconds of regulation, the visitors managed to pull one back on a patented Michel free kick. The Brazilian picked Hedges out far post and the 6’4” defender delivered his first goal of the season to knot the score heading into stoppage time.
Second-half substitute Andy Martinez tested the Dallas defense midway through the four-minute extra time period, but Hedges cleared his shot off the line to preserve the tough point.
FC Dallas returns home to Toyota Stadium on Saturday, March 22, when they take on Chivas USA.
