By Jon Arnold
23:13, 10 December 2020 CST
FC Dallas’ 2020 season ended Tuesday night with a 1-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders when the MLS Cup protective champion nearly beat the CDF with a headbutt in the second half of Shane O’Neill’s headbutt from a corner.
The Sounders qualify for the Western Conference final, now two wins from the defense of their name, while the CDF will begin the off-season and arrangements for 2021. The decisive purpose came in the 49th minute, when Sounders midfielder O’Neill overlooked the FCD midfielder. Thiago Santos in a corner and put his headbutt in Nicolas Loderio’s pitch, sending his shot past FCD goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer.
“We failed in a stopped kick. We didn’t put aside the few opportunities we had,” said FCD head coach Luchi Gonzalez. “This hurts because we see ourselves developing and taking action in the right direction, but the season is over. . “
The defeat ended a crusade for the CDF. After the MLS season break in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FCD was removed from the one-site summer tournament used to restart the game due to an outbreak of coronavirus cases within When the normal season resumed in local markets, the CDF struggled to locate a pace but started at the end of the year , with a 4-2-1 mark in his last seven games.
The momentum continued until last week’s run over the Portland Timbers, allowing the CDF to advance to the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season. However, despite the fact that the sounders’ much-acclaimed offensive trio, Raul Ruidiaz, Jordan Morris and Nicolas Loderio, are not on set, the CDF season ends in the convention semifinals.
“I think the way we settled today is the right way to play. The idea that we played well, we moved the ball, we created opportunities,” said central defender Matt Hedges. “It was one of our most productive performances in Seattle. Obviously we didn’t, win, but I’m proud of the way we played tonight. “
The game was very different from the wild playoff contest of the first circular of 2019, in which the CDF returned from 2-0 and then 3-2 to force overtime, but eventually fell to the Sounders in overtime.
“This one hurts more,” Gonzalez said. I know it’s been a challenging year. There was adversity in the year, but we were a little closer in the playoffs and felt like we did well to close the game defensively and that made it complicated.
Both groups left on Tuesday night as if their coaches’ pre-match speeches had encouraged them, each team seemed to have a lot of energy. The first 10 minutes ended with the Sounders’ defender, Nouhou, shooting at a crowded penalty domain he blocked through a hedges dive,
An out-of-place transparency of Ryan Hollingshead fell on Jordan Morris just after the 25th minute, but Hollingshead made up for the mistake, returning to catch Morris in the area and transparent the ball to a corner, which FCD was able to more effectively transparent. .
Then things have become much more confusing. The groups entered the break goallessly, with the CDF preventing the Sounders from recording a framed shot in the first half. It was only the time this season that the Sounders didn’t score at home.
“We got here at half-time and said, “Hey, they gave us this!It’s happening to be ours. ” Let’s pass a little more, ” said Gonzalez. “Then, in an open space, they hurt you, we grant a spin and boom, they score. It’s football. I was disappointed we gave up the pass.
After O’Neill’s first framed shot, Gonzalez went to his bench, taking winger Michael Barrios and Hollingshead to the left winger.
The FCD has pointed to the point in time. Tanner Tessmann used a little dexterity to take the ball to Hollingshead, who temporarily played a center, discovered Barrios, who directed his shot to goal but was denied a goal at the post. The rebound fell on Andrés Ricaurte, but the Colombian shot. was blocked before achieving the mouth of purpose.
“Very small main points can change the rules of the game in the playoffs. Many times, they are stopped pieces. It’s inches. The margins are very small,” Maurer said.
“These are those small main points that need to be checked to locate tactics to take credit for your appearance and save them from the other aspect. What could we have done bigger to end this possibility where it hits the pole and exits?much more frustrating because we felt we were inside and neutralized their first 3 that are so dangerous. “
The task seemed even more complicated in the 74th minute when FCD central defender Bressan, who had already won a yellow card in the match, knocked down Lodeiro with a hard entrance. Fortunately for the Brazilian, referee Robert Sibiga charged compatriot Santos. for an incident just before, exploiting the game and letting Bressan through with an undeniable warning.
With the full 11 still intact, Gonzalez continued to make adjustments in search of the tie, with the CDF still keeping the Sounders’ offensive trio silent. The hairmaker Santiago Mosquera and striker Ricardo Pepi competed in the 81st minute. There were a handful of other, partial opportunities for the FCD, but nothing that challenged the Sounders goalkeeper, Stefan Frei.
The FCD is now entering a off-season in which it will have to make decisions about the long-term of several Frisco players. The team is known for having young players and 4 teenagers witnessed Tuesday’s defeat. Stars with experienced veterans and where more reinforcements are needed will dictate many decisions made through technical director Andre Zanotta and the rest of the front lines on what the team will look like in 2021.
Find out more about FC Dallas at The Dallas Morning News here.
Jon Arnold, special collaborator
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