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Quite the draw: FC Dallas extends winless streak with another tie
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
FRISCO – At just 3-9-6 entering Saturday night's contest against San Jose, FC Dallas appeared to be outmatched on paper.
The Earthquakes boasted an 11-4-3 mark and the best record in the MLS overall standings.
However, another draw was the end result for Dallas, who extended its franchise-record winless streak to 13 games (0-7-6) with a 0-0 tie.
The tie was the third straight for an FC Dallas team that had a man advantage in the late stages of Saturday's game.
San Jose captain Ramiro Corrales picked up a red card in the 79th minute and was ejected from the game, forcing the Earthquakes to finish the match with 10 men for the first time this season.
"I haven't seen [the play where Corrales picked up a red card], but it looked a bit soft," said Frank Yallop, San Jose head coach. "It could have cost us the game."
The Earthquakes still managed several scoring opportunities down the stretch, including a pair of stops from goalkeeper Kevin Hartman on Shea Salinas and Chris Wondolowski.
The shutout was Hartman's MLS-record 109th of his career.
"They put more pressure on Kevin Hartman than we did on Jon Busch," Hyndman said.
Saturday's game marked the return to the starting lineup of 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira, who led the team to the MLS Cup Final in his award-winning season.
Ferreira was making just his second appearance since missing 45 games due to a broken ankle in an April 23, 2011 game. Hyndman said Ferreira’s return to the starting lineup was risky but essential.
“It’s always risky,” he said. “It just shows how anxious we are to have [Ferreira] back.”
FC Dallas also returned the services of Ricardo Villar after the midfielder was sidelined for 13 games due to a right foot injury.
However, the familiar faces couldn't help the home team end its recent offensive drought.
Busch pushed aside a late scoring chance in the 93rd minute when midfielder Carlos Rodriguez belted a shot from 30 yards out, ultimately ending any scoring chance in the game.
The chance came after several key defensive stops for FC Dallas that preserved the scoreless tie.
San Jose's best opportunity came in the 36th minute when Wondolowski got by FC Dallas defender Hernan Pertuz and lobbed a shot over Hartman's head that appeared to be an inevitable goal.
Pertuz got back into position, however, and managed to clear the ball just before it reached the goal line.
"I was a little disappointed we didn't finish the chances that we created," Yallop said.
Although neither team put a shot on target in the opening half, Dallas got its best scoring opportunity in the 31st minute when Busch slid out to stop a shot from Brek Shea and was unable to corral the ball. Fabian Castillo then had a good look from 15 yards out on a rebound shot that deflected off Busch and was then blocked by San Jose defender Justin Morrow.
“[Shea] is doing everything possible to help us win and that’s our best option right now,” Hyndman said.
The tie allowed San Jose (11-4-4) to maintain the top seed in the MLS standings with the Earthquakes moving to 6-3-2 on the road this season.
These two teams will meet again in a July 18 game at Buck Shaw Stadium in San Jose. The Earthquakes will first host Real Salt Lake in a July 14 match.
Meanwhile, FC Dallas will pay a visit to the Colorado Rapids on the same day for an 8 p.m. match.
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