Wakeup comes too late in 2:1 loss to Dallas
July 8, 2006
Please wake us up when it's over. The Red Donkeys' season is getting worse and worse, with a third straight loss, a 2:1 setback against Dallas. Yes, the Donkeys played much better than they did four days ago against Los Angeles, but this "better" is not good enough; not even close.
Steve Jolley's injury forced Seth Stammler to the backline; Mike Magee took Stammler's place in right midfield and Jean-Philippe Peguero, back from suspension, took Magee's place up front. Just two minutes into the game, Dallas scored off a long goal kick from Dario Sala that was flicked onto Dominic Oduro. Oduro fought off Carlos Mendes and slotted home the opener.
In the 33rd minute, moments after Marvell Wynne has the Donkeys' best chance so far saved by Sala, the play went to the other end and David Wagenfuhr stepped in front of Wynne to slam home a cross into the Metro net. In first half stoppage time, the Donkeys had three chances in a row with a long Stammler shot and its rebounds, but Sala saved them all, and although Amado Guevara was pushed down in the box during the goalmouth scramble, no foul was called.
The second half began without any sense of urgency, as the Donkeys seemed content to kick the ball back and forth, without making any strides forward. But the insertion of Jerrod Laventure in the 67th minute changed the game. That's right, Jerrod Laventure. The rookie, making his MLS debut, sent in a perfect pass to Edson Buddle with ten minutes left in the game, which Buddle passed back to Magee, who sent in a shot from just outside the box to half the lead.
The Red Donkeys started to press, but the wakeup call came too late. A couple of well-placed corner kicks went for naught and the insertion of Taylor Graham as a target forward in the waning minutes was, although interesting in concept, fruitless. We're half through the season with no silver lining in sight... This just sucks.
Lineup: Meola, Stammler, Mendes, Parke, Wynne, O'Rourke, Henderson, Magee, Guevara, Peguero, Buddle. Subs: Laventure, Vide, Graham.
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