FRISCO, Texas -- Despite getting an early goal from Jeff Cunningham, FC Dallas couldn't find the back of the net again and lost the 2009 USA-Brazil Challenge to Brazilian side Clube Atletico Paranaense on penalty kicks at Pizza Hut Park after a 1-0 victory through 90 minutes Saturday night. The sides finished tied 4-4 on aggregate over the two-game series, but CAP converted all five of their penalties to just four by FCD in the post-match shootout.
The home side got on the board early, 52 seconds in to be exact. The goal was set up when CAP defender Antonio Carlos executed a horrendous clearance that went right to Cunningham.
Cunningham then quickly lobbed one over the head of CAP goalkeeper Vinicius to give FCD an early 1-0 edge. The veteran scorer's tally, his sixth of preseason, tied the series after CAP claimed a 4-3 win in the first leg in Brazil.
FCD remained active and maintained possession in the CAP third of the pitch for much of the first half. In the seventh minute, Cunningham had a nice shot at another goal but his effort was blocked on the endline by Luis Rhodolfo.
A trio of shots by Cunningham's strike partner Kenny Cooper were each denied by Vinicius between the eighth and 19th minutes. Cooper had missed two training sessions this week and at one point was considered questionable to play in the match, but still started.
CAP's first chance of note came in the 16th minute. The Brazilians were able to find a seam in the FCD backline, executing a nice give-and-go that sprung Renan inside the box. With FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala charging and Renan facing virtually an open net, his shot inexplicably went wide right.
New left midfielder Dave van den Bergh and Cooper hooked up on several chances. The best of those opportunities came in the 37th when the former Dutch international struck a great ball from the right side that found Cooper near the far post. But Cooper's header was right at the CAP 'keeper and Vinicius made the easy save.
The starting 11 fielded by FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman was very close to the likely first 11 for next weekend's season opener. Captain Pablo Ricchetti, who will be suspended for the match with the Fire, did get the start at the holding midfield role, but he will be replaced in the lineup by either Bruno Guarda or Dax McCarty next Saturday.
Besides Cooper and Cunningham up top, Hyndman employed a midfield of van den Bergh on the left, former CAP player David Ferreira at the attacking spot, Ricchetti and McCarty manning the right flank. In the back, it was Blake Wagner on the left, Danny Torres and Steve Purdy in the middle with Drew Moor on the right with Sala between the posts.
Ferreira, who is on loan from CAP, was in the lineup against his former team for the first time. This marked his second match of preseason for FCD. The Colombian international had previously played 73 minutes in FCD's 4-3 loss to Parana FC in Brazil on March 2.
Just before half, Cunningham benefited from another great bit of service. McCarty made a great sprint up the left flank and sent a great cross through the box and to the FCD striker, who was waiting near the right post. Cunningham didn't strike the ball squarely and it went high over the CAP goal.
After 45 minutes of play, FCD had eight shots, including six efforts on frame compared to just four shots by CAP with only one of those on goal.
Ferreira made good things happen in the 58th when he spotted van den Bergh open just outside the CAP area. Van den Bergh launched a blast that missed the opposing goal by mere inches, going wide right.
While CAP made three lineup changes to start the second half, Hyndman finally went to his bench in the 69th when Andre Rocha, another former CAP player, came on for McCarty.
Two minutes later in the 71st, the visitors appeared to have scored when Lima booted one into the upper side of the goal. His tally was quickly waved off after he was deemed to be offside.
In the 81st minute, CAP once again seemed to have taken the lead on aggregate. Lima was charging toward the FCD goal when Sala came outside of the box and got a hand on his first shot. Play continued and Lima knocked the ball into the back of the net, but for the second time a goal of his was nullified, this time because of Sala's infraction.
The FCD 'keeper was shown red for his hand ball and Hyndman quickly summoned backup goalkeeper Ray Burse to replace Cunningham on the field. Julio Dos Santos took the ensuing free kick for CAP, which Burse made a spectacular stop on near the left post to allow FCD to keep their lead.
A shot by Sandro in the 86th went wide left for the Brazilians. But Burse came up big again three minutes later to deny Jorge on a great shot from distance. Burse logged another key denial in the 89th when he denied Jorge's effort on goal.
In the penalty kick shootout, CAP converted all five of their chances. The only FCD player who did not convert his spot kick was Andre Rocha, the fourth shooter for FCD. He attempted to tuck a shot just inside the left post but did not strike the ball firmly and CAP goalkeeper Galatto came over to deny his shot and give the South Americans the challenge victory.
FCD opens league play next Saturday against Chicago in the first Brimstone Cup meeting of the season, which will kick off as Pizza Hut Park at 7:30 p.m. CT.
No comments:
Post a Comment