WASHINGTON, D.C. -- FC Dallas have scored first in four of their last five matches but have just two draws to show for it with no wins. However, in their 2-2 draw with D.C. United at RFK Stadium Saturday night, the Hoops showed a resolve they have not demonstrated before.
"We just need to do a little better job protecting it (the lead) but today was really a little bit about character," Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "Normally when we go down, we don't come back; they drop their heads, drop the effort and this is what we keep talking about. It's attitude. I was really proud of the boys how they fought all the way until the end."
In their 2-1 home loss to Columbus two weeks ago and road loss two weeks earlier to the Crew by the same score, the Hoops gave up the equalizer and go-ahead goals within three minutes of each other on each occasion. Sandwiched between those games, FCD surrendered an equalizer in the final minute of a 1-1 draw with Kansas City on Aug. 23.
Against United however, Dallas continued to pressure after D.C.'s 26th-minute equalizer evened out a fantastic strike by Kenny Cooper in the ninth minute.
Taking the early lead and forcing United to attack with extra numbers -- leaving them open to frequent counter attacks -- has been the recent formula to beat the defending Supporter's Shield holders.
Ironically, the Hoops created all their scoring opportunities Saturday without the beneficiary of even one corner kick the entire match.
"It was a really entertaining game," Hyndman said. "Both teams had chances, they had the better possession but we exposed them for their weakness and were unlucky not to score on another counter. With the character, with the effort, they will do what we ask them to do, I think we will find success... It was a great team effort. This is what this team needs to do. They need to make more of a commitment to find success."
Midfielder Marcelo Saragosa similarly praised his teammates for not quitting after going down a goal following scores from Jaime Moreno and Santino Quaranta.
"It's difficult because we expect to win," Saragosa said. "I think the team did well and one point was a good result for us. The players gave 100 percent and it's important that the players helped each other. It's hard to (go behind) 2-1 but the team put their heads up and we scored the second goal."
Rocha's fitting equalizer in the 79th minute was the culmination of a series of chances created by the Hoops after momentum had swung United's direction following Quaranta's goal ten minutes earlier.
The inconsistent Brazilian has been in and out of Hyndman's lineup and was left off the 18-man roster for the Hoops' 1-0 loss at home to Colorado last week.
"We have not put our full team out there because we continue to have injuries," Hyndman said. "In training players, we are trying to get flank play. But what I saw today from Andre Rocha, he has been having kind of an up and down time with me the past month. Today was one of his best games."
Rocha was the catalyst and creative influence springing Cooper and Jeff Cunningham for multiple quality opportunities before burying his best and most meaningful opportunity for his second goal of the year.
"We have a lot of quality in the midfield," Cooper said. "We have not only guys who can play well defensively but guys who can play a killer pass too. Andre Rocha is like a quarterback so guys up front like Dom [Dominic Oduro] and Jeff who have so much speed so we can look for him to thread us through. The midfielders played some great balls tonight and we had some great opportunities."
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