Supporters’ Shield and U.S. Open Cup Champions fall, 4-2, to Seattle in Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs
FRISCO, Texas (Sunday, Nov. 6) – Maxi Urruti and Tesho Akindele found the back of the net for FC Dallas, but the two goals were not enough to extend the best season in franchise history, as the Supporters Shield and U.S. Open Cup Champions fell, 4-2 on aggregate to Seattle Sounders FC tonight at Toyota Stadium.
Down by three goals on aggregate to start the match due to a 3-0 loss last Sunday in Seattle, FC Dallas opened the game on the offensive. Atiba Harris earned a corner kick for the home squad in just the fourth minute. The Sounders FC defense was able to clear the ball away from danger but the pressure continued until the 12th minute, when Seattle’s Nelson Valdez nearly broke through the Dallas defense. Center back Matt Hedges broke up the play with a slide tackle and FC Dallas sped forward once again in hope of cutting into the three-goal lead.
Harris nearly netted the first goal of the game in the 20th minute when a deflection fell to his feet inside the area. The St. Kitts and Nevis international side-stepped a defender before attempting to slot a ball inside the far post, but Seattle goalkeeper Stephan Frei charged off his line and made a kick save with his left leg.
Five minutes later, FC Dallas’ mountain got smaller by a third when Michael Barrios tossed a throw-in to Harris on the right flank. Harris whipped a cross into the six-yard box, where Tesho was able to beat Tyrone Mears to the pass. The Canadian forward redirected a header over Frei and off the bottom of the crossbar to bring the aggregate score to 3-1.
FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz made a ridiculous save to keep the deficit at two in the 37th minute. Seattle’s No. 10 Nicolas Lodeiro earned a free kick 26 yards from goal and then ripped a set piece chance towards the near post. The shot curled around the FC Dallas wall but Seitz was in good position and pushed the shot wide, off the inside of the post and back across the goalmouth before it was cleared away.
Seattle opened the second half with a goal thanks to a takeaway by Tyrone Mears. Mears quickly picked up his head and played a ball into the path of Lodeiro. The No. 10 slammed a shot back to the front post. Seitz did well to come back and make a play on the shot but was ultimately unable to keep the ball out of the back of the net. The goal brought the score line to 4-1 on aggregate.
Down but not out, FC Dallas quickly returned fire. Once again, Harris led the way, sending a cross in from the right flank that bounced before being headed back across goal by Mauro Rosales. Urruti was there to finish off the chance for Dallas, making the score 4-2 in favor of Seattle.
Dallas nearly pulled another back in the 78th minute. Carlos Ruiz and Maynor Figueroa each took a big swing during a goalmouth scramble but had their shots blocked.
Scoring Summary:
DAL – Tesho Akindele (Atiba Harris, Michael Barrios) 25
SEA – Nicolas Lodeiro (Tyrone Mears) 54
DAL – Maxi Urruti (Mauro Rosales, Harris) 56
FC Dallas – Chris Seitz, Maynor Figueroa, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman (Carlos Ruiz 62), Atiba Harris, Carlos Gruezo, Kellyn Acosta, Mauro Rosales (Ryan Hollingshead 75), Tesho Akindele, Michael Barrios (Carlos Lizarazo 75), Maxi Urruti.
Substitutes Not Used: Jesse Gonzalez, Norberto Paparatto, Getterson, Victor Ulloa.
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei, Chad Marshall, Zach Scott, Joevin Jones, Tyrone Mears, Cristian Roldan, Nicolas Lodeiro, Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg (Brad Evans 77), Jordan Morris (Oneil Fisher 46), Nelson Valdez.
Substitutes Not Used: Tyler Miller, Tony Alfaro, Aaron Kovar, Herculez Gomez, Roman Torres.
Misconduct Summary:
SEA – Cristian Roldan (caution) 27
DAL – Atiba Harris (caution) 27
SEA – Stephan Frei (caution) 67
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
AR1 (bench): Jonathan Johnson; AR2 (opposite): Adam Garner; 4th: Juan Guzman
Weather: Cloudy, 62
Attendance: 14,878
