by Ethan Johnson
August 24, 2008
Another road game. Let's do this:
FCD and KC had identical records going into this match (6-7-7). But as both teams reside in separate conferences, this meant KC was well out of the playoff picture, whereas FCD was in third place. The top three teams in each division advance to the playoffs. But there are several matches to go yet, including this one, which was played on Saturday, August 23.
Dax McCarty returned to the starting lineup after a long hiatus. Ricardinho returned to Brazil, having never really "clicked" with FCD and was doing a fine job at my old position (Left Out). Marcelo Saragosa was out of the lineup, which meant that he and Pablo Ricchetti would not be on the pitch at the same time. Saragosa is something of a crutch for Schellas Hyndman, so I figured it would be instructional to see how FCD would play without him.
I haven't been high on Dario Sala lately, but despite an article in the Dallas Morning News claiming that all players are having to compete for a starting spot (more on that story later), Sala persists in the starting lineup. Apparently Ray Burse and Josh Lambo are horrible goalies.
Speaking of horrible, Channel 52 covered the game, and I think a cheap camera with Vaseline smeared on the lens would deliver a clearer picture. Maybe KDFW TV and Telefutura can co-host a charity car wash to save up for better equipment.
Andre Rocha scored his first-ever goal for FCD with a wild shot from long distance in the 7th minute. I had to rewind the DVR, as I couldn't believe it went it. KC couldn't believe it either, but believe this: 1-0 FCD.
Pad of Death shortly thereafter: "Lots of up/down the middle play."
Okay: Naturally, whenever Sala ends up on my Shit List, he has a good outing. BUT, KC took a free kick that ended up in the side netting, and at a glance seemed like a KC goal. Sala reacted instinctively, but as the announcers pointed out, his hand was way back in the box and wouldn't have prevented the goal anyway. As Jon Champion says on my PES 2008 video game, "so much of goalkeeping is about anticipation." Hear hear.
FCD n00b Viktor Sikora was subbed out shortly after that free kick caper due to a knee injury.
We won't have Pablo Ricchetti to kick around next time either: He received 2 yellow cards in the match, resulting in a red, and an ejection/suspension. (No) Thanks to the two-bit announcers, who were obsessed with eating kettle corn (no lie) in the first half, I had no idea that Ricchetti received the first card. I, and they, assumed that he mouthed off to the ref after getting the card and the ref had onion skin. Nope, but the broadcast team is craving onion skins because I said that.
Shortly thereafter: Bruno Guarda is subbed on for Andre Rocha. Okay, cram this bull about FCD players all having to fight for playing time equally. Guarda has SMU cooties, and Hyndman coached him at SMU, so I am alleging favoritism until I see something out of Guarda that says, "yep, better than Rocha, or any other player on the bench." And why, oh why are we not seeing Brek Shea? FCD is being like Motel 6: Who cares what the room looks like, because it's just a bed for the night. Pepperoni Park is apparently serving as Shea's mailing address while he gets farmed out to every U-23 competition imaginable. Hope it's worth it.
Even more mysterious: Michael Dello-Russo on for Jeff Cunningham. Really? Is the FCD depth chart this shallow? I'm serious. D-R didn't blow the game, which helps, but WTF happened to Dominic Oduro?
Officially, FCD played a man down since the 62nd minute, which was effectively a 30-minute power play for KC, and a countdown to inevitability, but actually, more like 9 men. Kenny Cooper couldn't get the ball if it was tied to his ankle. Wide open, waving his arms begging for the ball, and nope. Again and again. Good thing those transfer offers got scuttled to show 100% commitment to Cooper in hoops.
Sala did his level best to stave off the KC onslaught in the finla minutes, but in stoppage time KC broke through to make it 1-1. Ballgame.
Of course, Real Salt Lake lost, which would have meant FCD moved into 2nd place in the West behind Houston, bolstering their playoff hopes. Instead they vaulted into Still Third Place. What a missed opportunity. FCD and KC still have identical records.
Next up: FCD returns home to face Columbus on August 30. I do not have a ticket to that game, so I might be privy to more of the broadcast team's food cravings. Can't wait. <EM>
(The full MLS article archive may be found here.)
