3rd Degree » Jay Brownlee

Zip It: It’s a LA Galaxy World

Jay Brownlee — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:05:33 +0000

Winters are often dark and lonely places for fans of Major League Soccer. While England is celebrating a full slate of traditional Boxing Day fixtures, most MLS fans are wondering what possible surprises- good and bad- our beloved American clubs will have in store for us in the off-season.

Zip It: FC Dallas at Seattle Sounders

Jay Brownlee — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:00:35 +0000

Sometimes miracles don’t happen. The late surge by FC Dallas to secure an incredibly unlikely post-season berth came up short at packed Qwest Field in chilly Seattle as Dallas fell 2-1 to Seattle Sounders FC. Despite a furious late-season push, Dallas entered the match needing a win to secure a place in the post-season. Seattle, already having secured their place, still had final positioning in mind.

Zip It: Colorado Rapids vs FC Dallas

Jay Brownlee — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:08:29 +0000

FC Dallas continued their scorching hot run for an improbable playoff berth Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco with a well-played 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids in front of 15,243. In a virtual must-win match for the home club, Dallas defenders George John and Ugo Ihemelu provided all the scoring Dallas would need for the win.

Zip It: FC Dallas at San Jose Earthquakes

Jay Brownlee — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:20:37 +0000

FC Dallas continued their improbable late-season run for the playoffs with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes Wednesday night at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Thank you, MLS playoff system.

Zip It: New England vs FC Dallas

Jay Brownlee — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:56:23 +0000

Following last week’s excellent end-to-end shutout victory, FC Dallas again played a nearly flawless match as they used a goal from the head of Jeff Cunningham to forge a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution at a festive Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Playing as opening billing to the Mexico / Columbia friendly, FC Dallas beat the Revolution for the first time since 2006.

Zip It: Real Salt Lake vs FC Dallas

Jay Brownlee — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:18:11 +0000

Jeff Cunningham’s torrid goal-scoring streak continued Saturday night as his two goals all but ended road-sick Real Salt Lake’s playoff chances in a 3-0 FC Dallas win. In what might have been the most complete match of the season, FC Dallas went ahead in the 5th minute against the early run of play. Dax McCarty’s hustle earned a win of the ball deep in the Salt Lake end. McCarty sent a pass to the feet of David Ferreira, whose cross into Dave Van Den Berg was deflected up to a streaking Cunningham. Cunningham took the ball on the volley and slammed it past helpless Nick Rimando for the 1-0 lead.

Zip It: FC Dallas at KC Wizards

Jay Brownlee — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:06:00 +0000

In American football, teams often look to try to win the game on at least two of the “three” sides of the ball, offense, defense and special teams. Soccer, of course, is a much more free-flowing sport, but winning offense and defense is sometimes not enough to win a match. If soccer has a pointy-ball equivalent, it is the set-piece that comes closest to special teams. Poor play on set-pieces can and do cost teams matches.

Zip It: FC Dallas at LA Galaxy

Jay Brownlee — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:12:12 +0000

FC Dallas reversed a season-long trend Saturday night at the Home Depot Center against the LA Galaxy, exploding for four second half goals to bury the home team 6-3 in front of 18,148. It was the first time this season the rejuvenated Galaxy had given up as many as four goals in a match and the first time in their history the club had given up six. The beating left LA looking much like FC Dallas did only a year ago in a match that saw David Beckham’s Dallas debut send Dallas to a 5-1 defeat and the sacking of FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow.

Zip It: DC United vs FC Dallas

Jay Brownlee — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 04:46:31 +0000

What could reasonably be predicted to be the starting 2010 starting backline for FC Dallas started Saturday night against DC United at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. New addition Ugo Ihemelu, Kyle Davies, George John, and Jair Benitez all took the field in a sneak-peak of what Dallas may look like next season.

Zip It: FC Dallas at New York

Jay Brownlee — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:59:41 +0000

In the no good, horrible, very bad season of 2009, FC Dallas has continued to invent new ways to disappoint. In between the rare wins and streaks of improved play, this team has found new bottoms of misery and ineptitude. But Sunday afternoon on the rock-hard astro-whatever of Giants Stadium in New Jersey, FC Dallas plumbed new depths in a 3-2 loss to 10-men New York Red Bulls. This match was a trap from the start.