FRISCO, Texas -- FC Dallas might have lost the USA-Brazil Challenge on penalty kicks to Brazilian side Clube Atletico Paranaense on Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park, but for FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman, the night was full of positives.
FCD won the game 1-0 thanks to a first-minute goal by Jeff Cunningham. However, the home side finished tied with CAP 4-4 on aggregate, after a 4-3 loss in Brazil a couple of weeks ago, and the sides went to penalty kicks. CAP converted all five of their attempts while FCD's Andre Rocha failed to connect on his side's fourth attempt.
"I thought that was a great goal by Jeff Cunningham," Hyndman said. "I thought there were some great opportunities to catch a second goal in the first half. We played against a very good team. I really thought that we did a good job in our possession. It seems that the maturity picked up on the team. We all were really pleased with the defending."
FCD captain Pablo Ricchetti agreed it was a good way to conclude preparations for the start of the 2009 season.
"I think it's the perfect game to close the preseason," he said. "We played really well today. We have improved our defense. I think it was a complete game."
The home team finished the night a man down after starting goalkeeper Dario Sala was sent off in the 81st minute after a handball outside of the FCD box that saved a goal. CAP was unable to convert the ensuing free kick, which helped send the game to penalties.
"That was a breakaway and if (Sala) had stayed on his line, he probably would have gotten beaten one-on-one," Hyndman said. "I think what he did was he came out quickly and did what any goalie has to do at that point in time, you foul the guy and you're going to get a red card or you try to stop it and you're going to get a red card. When you think about it, he had a good game."
Hyndman quickly summoned backup 'keeper Ray Burse from his bench and Burse came on for Cunningham. He was quickly tested on CAP's resulting free kick, which he made a great save on.
"I was really impressed with Ray coming in cold," Hyndman said. "The first thing they did was take a free kick and he made a save. Then, he made a couple of other saves."
Cunningham's goal was his sixth of the preseason and it came about after a poor clearance by CAP defender Antonio Carlos.
"Hey, they're all going in," Cunningham said. "So I will take them however I can get them."
Hyndman also lauded the play of left-sided midfielder Dave van den Bergh and the great service he provided all evening.
"I think Dave in the first half had more services than we had all of last year," Hyndman said. "I thought he was quality. When he gets a free angle, he will serve. Our players will continually put themselves into position of expecting those crosses.
FCD outshot CAP 8-4 in the first half. But in the second half, CAP outshot the home team 5-2.
"In the first half, we had the early goal," Cunningham said. "That gave us some confidence and we were able to play more attacking football. In the second half, they made some adjustments defensively. I thought they pressed us much higher and didn't give us a lot of time on the ball. As a result, they played better than us in the second half."
Saturday's match marked the second preseason action, but home debut, for recently signed attacking midfielder David Ferreira. Hyndman also gave him high marks for his performance.
"I thought he did well," Hyndman said. "Here's a guy who doesn't know us. He might have had four training sessions with us. So he really doesn't know us and I don't think we know him because there were a lot of times where he was available and we didn't pass him the ball. I think as we grow together, we're going to find him much more. As you can see, he's a very skillful player when the ball is on his feet. But I thought he did well tonight."
Ricchetti agreed. "I think he has experience and knows what he has to do," he said. "Hopefully he can adjust his play to this league soon. He had a good game and helped us a lot. We just have to adjust to him a little bit."
FCD opens the 2009 MLS season next Saturday against the Chicago Fire, with the Brimstone Cup match set to kick off at Pizza Hut Park at 7:30 p.m. CT.
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