FC Dallas shock Seattle with equalizer

First-half stoppage-time goal energizes home side

Drew Moor (R) battled on the back line to secure a 1-1 draw with Sounders FC. (Ronald Martinez/Getty)

Things started off well for the visitors. In the seventh minute, Fredy Montero got free inside the FCD area but saw his shot deflected by an opposing player. Five minutes later, he took a free kick from 40 yards out but his effort sailed high.

FCD's first real chance came in the eighth minute when Kenny Cooper and Rocha connected on a great sequence. Cooper sent a great ball Rocha's way from the left flank and all that stopped his shot from going in was Seattle's Zach Scott, who cleared the ball off the endline.

In the 14th minute, the first of several FCD starters fell injured on the evening. Center back Steve Purdy came up favoring a hamstring and left the field for several minutes. He returned two minutes later and fellow starter Jeff Cunningham departed to receive attention from the FCD medical staff just in front of the bench. Purdy pressed on for the rest of the half, but it was clear that his right leg was causing him a considerable amount of pain.

Hurtado's tally in the 18th was set up by a pinpoint feed from Seattle rookie Steve Zakuani. His ball from the right flank keyed the goal, finding Nate Jaqua, who flicked on a header to Hurtado in the penalty area. FCD goalkeeper Ray Burse ventured off his line before Hurtado flipped it over him to the back of the net for an easy goal.

Jaqua nearly made it for Seattle 2-0 in the 21st minute. Hurtado set the table with some great individual effort on the left flank before slotting the ball to Jaqua, who was right in front of goal. The big striker was off the mark, missing to the left of net at close range. He failed to convert a similar chance just before halftime.

Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid was forced to go his bench earlier than expected when Scott was injured in the 21st and came off for Tyson Wahl. Three minutes later, FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman had to pull Cunningham off, who had an injured hip, for Brek Shea.

In the 28th, Hyndman had to make another change when center back George John, a Seattle native, had to leave with an injured right hamstring for Daniel Torres.

Seattle's second missed opportunity came in the 36th minute when Brad Evans hit the left post on a breakaway. A great chip found Evans, who won a footrace with Torres. Burse was again off his line but Evans' effort drew iron instead of finding paydirt. FCD blew a nice chance of their own when a Rocha free kick about five yards from Seattle's area was struck right into the heart of the wall three minutes from the half.

Rocha achieved some redemption by netting the equalizer in stoppage time before halftime. Fellow Brazilian Marcelo Saragosa showed some great vision in getting the ball to Rocha, who got an outstretched leg on the ball and sent a full volley just inside the far post for his second goal of 2009.

Hyndman made his final change of the night to start the second half, taking off Purdy for Bruno Guarda, who moved to the defensive midfield spot. Pablo Ricchetti moved to Purdy's spot in the central defense when Guarda entered the match. That move signaled an FCD shift from a 4-4-2 into a 3-5-2.

About three minutes into the second half, Sounders FC got a great chance when Zakuani decided to take a chance from distance, a gamble that almost worked. However, Burse had other ideas and got a hand on the Seattle rookie's shot to send the ensuing carom over the touch line.

Shea saw his first real chance in the 60th, a shot that was saved by Keller. In the 69th minute, the second-year forward benefited from great service by Dave van den Bergh but once again, the Seattle 'keeper was there to deny his chance, this time by saving his header.

Van den Bergh had a nice chance of his own in the 61st when the veteran midfielder attempted to chip the ball into the back of the net. His shot was a bit off the mark and instead went wide right.

In the 65th, van den Bergh struck a free kick from about 45 yards out perfectly. His effort found the head of Drew Moor, whose header was right at Keller and the veteran 'keeper made an easy save.

The home side continued to press for the game winner down the stretch. A Rocha shot in the 81st minute went wide right, then Guarda was heard from twice in the final 10 minutes with a shot saved by Keller in the 82nd and another deflected in the 90th.

Seattle will face Colorado next Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. while FCD remains at home to face the Los Angeles Galaxy next Saturday evening.

Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com

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