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March 14, 2009
CUNNINGHAM GOAL SINKS CAP
FCD wins game 1-0; loses Challenge Trophy
By Phil Stephens
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New attacking midfielder David Ferreira showed flashes of his potential with Dallas, even though he has just a handful of practices with the team.
Photo by Michael Stephens |
Jeff Cunningham’s goal in the first minute stood up for FC Dallas in a 1-0 win Saturday over Clube Atletico Paranaense at Pizza Hut Park. But the visiting CAP team captured the hardware of the USA-Brazil Challenge by outshooting FCD 5-4 in a PK shootout after the game.
The teams were tied in aggregate goals 4-4 after the game. CAP beat Dallas 4-3 in the first leg in Curitiba, Brazil.
In the 52nd second, a terrible clearance by CAP defender Rafael Santos went right to Jeff Cunningham, just inside the penalty box on the right side. He took a few quick steps and put FCD into a 1-0 lead inside the first minute on a chip over CAP goalie Vinicius. CAP stormed back with several quick penetrations, but Dallas weathered the storm and began to show off some of its new attacking force.
Cunningham got another good chance in the seventh minute when he handled a cross from van den Bergh and had a close-in strike at the right post that Vinicius was all over.
Cooper benefitted from a nice set-up just six minutes later as McCarty combined with Ferreira to place the ball to Cooper on the right side. He dribbled a few steps and hit a low riser that had to be parried away by the goalie. That led to two straight corner kicks but nothing in the net.
Cooper was questionable for the game because of a lingering injury from the team’s trip to Brazil, but he stepped up ready to play after missing several training sessions this past week. His best moment in the first half came on a long run down the right side. He kept coming with the ball after starting from behind the midline. He cut in after crossing into the penalty box, juked right to get by a defender and fired a blast that the Vinicius hustled to save.
As he has all spring, McCarty hustled on every play and combined with all of his teammates helping FCD more than hold its own in possession. He moved to the right side while Rocha is still working on fitness and he looked better than just comfortable.
“We have a lot of good midfield players with the signing of David (Ferreira) and Dave van den Bergh,” McCarty said. “When he (Coach Schellas Hyndman) asked me to go to the right side, it was no problem.”
McCarty said the Dutch flanker offers such depth of play, it expands his own game, allowing him to go inside and outside.
“I try to feed off him,” McCarty said.
Coach Hyndman praised the goal by Cunningham, but said the team had some great opportunities to score a second time. Mainly, he was pleased with the advancement shown by his team in maturity since Brazil. He noted just one mistake by the team during the game, a Purdy turnover in the back.
“Our defense is what we needed to improve and we did a good job. ”A lot of good things went right for us.”
Hyndman said his team was hungry for this game and their work all week reflected that.
Dallas showed enough promise for the season that attract more fans that the skimpy 5,213 that showed up for the exhibition game.
Dallas goalie Dario Sala came up with some big saves, but things got zany near the end when Sala saved a sure goal by CAP on a breakaway by coming completely out of the box and stopping a shot headed for net with a deliberate hand ball. The ref blew his whistle. Lima ran on to the loose ball and found net on a second shot, but it didn’t count. Instead, Sala got a red card and CAP got a free kick, which was saved by new Dallas goalie Ray Burse. Burse came up with two big saves after he came in the 81st minute.
After the game, the teams went straight to penalty kicks to earn the challenge trophy.
Cooper was first to the spot and put the Red Stripes up 1-0 with a stutter step approach and right-footed blast inside the left post that flew under the goalie. Gustavo converted for CAP with a shot that rebounded off the left post and into the goal. Van den Bergh, newly signed left flanker for Dallas, used a casual approach to the ball, then left-footed a hammer shot to the right. Jorge equalized for CAP, hitting inside the right corner. David Ferreira, newest FCD player, hit just off center, with a crossing drift across center and Dallas’ third score. Gabriel kept CAP in step with the host team, tucking a ball in the upper 90’s on the right side.
Rocha stepped up for FCD and tried a weak shot to his left that CAP goalie Galatto saved on a dive to his right. When Julio Dos Santos fired his chance into the far right corner, it gave CAP a 4-3 edge in conversions. Richetti was the last shooter for FCD and approached with a stutter step, then lofted a high chip into the center, equalizing the PK tally. Lima was just a perfect from the spot as his teammates, taking a long stutter step, then a hesitation and then into the right corner as Dallas goalie Burse finally committed to his right.
With a little better finishing, Dallas could have claimed this trophy. The defense, however, came up surprisingly strong. CAP earned enough quality chances, including two recalled goals that could have given the game a different result.
But this is the kind of pre-season tune-up that Dallas can build on and find confidence in as it heads into next week’s MLS season opener against the Chicago Fire at PHP, March 14.
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