Match Report: USOC, FC Dallas 2, Charleston Battery 1
August 9th, 2007 . 4:04 pm . By: Jamie FougerousseThe Battery took the early lead on a stunning goal by Stephen Armstrong, but Dallas pulled one back quickly through a Clarence Goodson header on a corner kick. Juan Toja left the game injured, and regulation produced no other goals. Just 5 minutes into overtime, Arturo Alvarez made one of his signature slices across the top of the box from the right and finished near post to send the Hoops to the US Open Cup semifinals. Coach Morrow fielded mostly a first-choice team for this match hoping to avoid last year’s need for penalties in the Open Cup match against the same foe. Abe Thompson stepped in for Ruiz up top due to Ruiz’s foot bruise. Dominic Oduro made way for Marcelo Saragosa at holding midfield as the line of attacking midfielders behind Thompson shifted to include Dax McCarty. The Battery, of the USL’s 1st Division, made three changes from the team that lost 2-1 to Dallas’ last Open Cup opponent, the Atlanta Silverbacks, on Saturday. Their formation in that match was more of a 4-5-1, but they fielded a straight 4-4-2 against Dallas. The extra forward was Byron Alvarez, who replaced midfielder Jordan Hughes. Anthony Catalano replaced Lou Rolko in the defense, and Michael Richardson started at left midfield for Gordon Chin. A near-record heat index, traveling Dallas fans, and the electric atmosphere of Blackbaud Stadium awaited FC Dallas in Charleston. The game was broadcast free and live through the USL’s website with first-rate commentary by Andrew Bell. The game began slowly, with Dallas controlling the possession. The Battery pressured, but was always quick to get eight or nine players behind the ball when Dallas tried to go forward. Neither team had a good chance until the 17th minute. After playing the ball back to their keeper, center back Tim Karalexis received it, looked upfield, and played a nice long ball to Richardson on the left touch line past midfield. Richardson’s first touch knocked the ball back and inside to Stephen Armstrong. About 35 yards from goal, still on the left, Drew Moor gave Armstrong a little space. Armstrong touched the ball forward and teed up a shot with his left foot. The surprising blast curled outward over Dallas keeper Ray Burse and went in the upper corner of the Dallas goal at the far post to give Charleston the 1-0 lead. Dallas picked up the pressure immediately, with a good exchange between Thompson and Toja resulting in Toja getting behind the Battery defense and beating the keeper with a shot only to see it hit the far post. Just six minutes after the goal, Clarence Goodson equalized for Dallas by heading a Dax McCarty corner kick home at the near post. The rest of the first half was more Dallas possession, with an inability to break down the compact Charleston defense. Juan Toja injured his ankle tackling Corcoran in the 37th minute, but continued playing about half speed for a couple minutes. He tried to take himself off in the 42nd minute, but it looked as though the coaching staff told him to stay on until halftime. Charleston had a dangerous chance in the 43rd minute as Luke Vercollone whipped a nice cross in from the right that skipped across the open Dallas goal. Byron Alvarez just missed connecting at the far post. Each team made a sub to start the second half, with Dominic Oduro replacing the injured Toja for Dallas and Ian Bennett replacing Luke Vercollone for Charleston. Dallas moved the ball well throughout the game, but were often their own worst enemy with a few sloppy passes resulting in giveaways in dangerous situations. It was a chippy second half with little excitement outside of fouls, intercepted passes, and substitutions. Each team made an attacking substitution for the final 15 minutes of regulation. Dallas brought on Bobby Rhine for Marcelo Saragosa, while Charleston replaced forward Byron Alvarez with the fresh legs of Aaron King. The subs produced little change in play. Dallas had a couple close calls on corner kicks in the final ten minutes. Toussaint put a free header just over the bar at the Dallas end. But the game seemed destined for overtime when Abe Thompson touched a cross over the bar at the edge of the six-yard box after beating the knackered Battery center backs in the 90th minute. Dallas came out attacking at the start of the first overtime period, trying to exploit the fatigue evident in the Charleston back line. It took five minutes, but the Hoops finally broke through to find the game-winner. Pablo Ricchetti threaded a nice long ball on the ground up the left side from his own half of the field to Oduro. Oduro cut inside near the Charleston penalty box and laid the ball off to Rhine in the center. Rhine held it long enough to draw a defender to him before dishing it off to Alvarez on the right side. Alvarez cut back inside, beat the recovering defender, and fired past Hudock low at the near post to make the score 2-1 Dallas. The goal seemed to be the straw that broke Charleston’s back. Dallas continued to pressure with fast play for the rest of the first overtime period, negating the Battery bringing on forward Jordan Hughes just before the break. In the second period it was mostly a game of keep-away as Dallas knocked the ball around and bunkered. The win moves Dallas on to the Open Cup semifinals against the Seattle Sounders on September 4th. Charleston is eliminated, but they will host the California Victory Saturday night in USL league play. Dallas returns home Saturday to face the Columbus Crew in MLS action.
LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP QUARTERFINAL Scoring Summary: FC Dallas Lineup:
Substitutes Not Used: Boris Pardo (GK), Michael Dello-Russo, Anthony Wallace Charleston Battery Lineup:
Substitutes Not Used: Keith Wiggans (GK), Brandon Curran, Armando Romero
Misconduct Summary: Referee: Hilario Grajeda 2 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From the camera angles to the commentary, that was the best broadcast of a FCD match that I have seen all season.
I am really stoked by the drastic improvement in play that I have seen from Dax since he returned from the U20’s. I wonder if one of the U20 coaches got into his head, or if he picked up some things from one of the other players on the roster?
Goodson’s MOTM type performance again saved FCD on the night. This game was more difficult than it should have been because the MF was dead tired and didn’t keep the ball. The battery goal came because of no ball pressure 30 yards from goal, Armstrong had all day to line up the shot. It was a great shot but never should have happened.
If the boys can rise up one more time Saturday and do the business then they can finally get some rest and heal some injuries. You gotta love this team, given the most difficult schedule in the league they are tied with NE for the Supporter’s Shield on points per game.