FRISCO, Texas- On a muggy, 100-degree evening at Pizza Hut Park, FC Dallas and DC United played to their second 0-0 draw of the season in a game with few offensive opportunities on Saturday night.
The game featured only three total shots on goal, as neither team was able to make connections in the midfield, stunting their respective attacks.
The game’s best scoring opportunity came in the 67th minute when FC Dallas’ Marvin Chavez dispossessed D.C. United center back Brandon McDonald and ran in alone on D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid. However, the Honduran international passed up a pass to a streaking Jackson and shot a weak ball to the left of Hamid’s goal.
D.C. United captain Josh Wolff was a late scratch from the match and head coach Ben Olsen replaced the veteran forward with Joseph Ngwenya, while FC Dallas saw captain Daniel Hernandez return as he took his position at defensive midfield.
Hernandez’s midfield partner Andrew Jacobson sat out his second game as he recovers from a hamstring injury suffered last Saturday at Real Salt Lake. Brazilian Ricardo Villar received his first start of the season in Jacobson’s place.
The first half saw few opportunities with the best one falling to D.C. United in the 34th minute. D.C. United center back Brandon McDonald found himself on the end of an Andy Najar free kick but his left-footed volley from six-yards flew high over the FC Dallas goal frame.
Neither side made halftime changes but as the second half began, FC Dallas came out attacking.
Shea, recently named an MLS All-Star, nearly put the home side up in the 51st minute but Hamid tipped his curling shot from 19-yards past the far post.
Olsen countered FCD’s attack by bringing in Fred – in his second to last game with DC United – for Charlie Davies in the 54th minute and coincidentally DC United briefly came alive shortly after. McDonald missed a free header and FC Dallas cleared two more DC United corner kicks to subside the threat.
In the 87th minute, FCD’s Jackson almost gave his team the late-game winner but his diving volley on the end of a Jair Benitez cross rattled off the crossbar.
Both sides face a short week as FC Dallas travel to Canada to play Toronto FC and DC United return to RFK Stadium to host the New England Revolution.
Scoring Summary:none
D.C. United -- Bill Hamid, Perry Kitchen, Ethan White, Brandon McDonald, Daniel Woolard, Andy Najar (Stephen King 72), Dwayne De Rosario, Clyde Simms, Chris Pontius, Charlie Davies (Fred 54), Joseph Ngwenya.
FC Dallas -- Kevin Hartman, Zach Loyd, George John, Ugo Ihemelu, Jair Benitez, Jackson, Eric Alexander (Eric Avila 72), Daniel Hernandez, Ricardo Villar (Bruno Guarda 61), Brek Shea, Marvin Chavez (Milton Rodriguez 81).
Misconduct Summary:
DC -- Ethan White (caution; Tactical Foul) 26
DAL -- Daniel Hernandez (caution; Tactical Foul) 58
Referee: Niko Bratsis
Referee's Assistants: Peter Manikowski; Craig Lowry
4th Official: Ricardo Salazar
Attendance: 10,802
Time of Game: 1:50
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 100 degrees
