FC Dallas Are Thrashed in San Diego
After the emotional high of that victory in Miami, FC Dallas crash back to earth at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
On a cool, damp evening in San Diego at newly minted Snapdragon Stadium, FC Dallas wilted in the ocean breeze in their first-ever match-up with the expansion Major League Soccer side.
The game started off with some good energy from FC Dallas, as they were able to win the ball in attacking areas and get forward on the attack, but then things quickly fell apart.
San Diego FC went ahead off a generous penalty kick, a bit too generous, in fact. Chucky Lozano slotted it home for the opening goal, despite Maarten Paes guessing the right way and getting a hand on it. They added a second in the 27th minute, carving open Dallas’ defense as Lozano rounded the keeper for his second of the night. Not a great first half defensively.
And yet, Dallas didn’t look completely out of sorts. At moments, they looked more likely to score as they were able to win balls and get deep in their opponent’s final third. Logan Farrington and Lucho Acosta both had opportunities but simply couldn’t put it on frame.
This game started out with intrigue as Eric Quill opted to go with the lineup he closed out with against Inter Miami, three center backs next to Anderson Julio and Shaq Moore in more advanced wing-back roles. Lucho Acosta and the youngster Pedrinho worked as dual 10s, a pairing that, while intriguing, is very much a work in progress. While the lineup did create some opportunities in the first half, it also created spaces for San Diego to work in. As the team got more stretched, San Diego exploited those windows with precision.
Unfortunately, the second half, despite a burst of energy from Dallas, picked up where San Diego left off. The home side exploited the open spaces left behind as Dallas desperately pushed forward to get back into the game, adding a third goal from Andres Dreyer off a fast break and then a questionable fourth that ricocheted off the crossbar and probably didn’t cross the line.
A fifth was the final dagger on a brutal night for the boys from Frisco.
For head coach Eric Quill, the final third play was the biggest let down of the evening.
“We had chances to punish early on in the game, and we didn't punish,” Quill told media. “There were clear chances that had to be put away, and the first thing in the game that they got was a penalty. The game changes, and a team like San Diego, credit to them. Once they get the goal, it gives them a little bit of belief and confidence and takes away some of our belief, and what we don't want to do against a group like San Diego is have to go chase the game.”
There are silver linings, if that even makes sense.
For one, FC Dallas won’t leave San Diego til after a morning practice. Maybe there is time for the squad to get up extra early and take a stroll along the beach, refreshing their heads and bodies ahead of a crucial week with Open Cup action.
Second, this third away game in a row still sees FC Dallas come away with 4 points from a difficult stretch. While their performance in San Diego left much to be desired, the storyline of this season has been the team’s focus and success on the road. That’s something the team will want to hold on to.
“We've done great on the road but tonight's performance was just not good enough. We know that. We know that we're better than what this result shows. We have to become humble, get on the training field and guys need to be competing for jobs,” Quill said after the match. “When you lose in a game like this we have to figure out who wants to be in the grass come Wednesday night and come Saturday, and that's what I got. I got a competitive group that understands that this is an opportunity for them.”
Ultimately, a real disappointment for FC Dallas in their first match in San Diego but an opportunity for other players to step up ahead of two big matches in Frisco.