Return of MLS’s Modric?
Aspiring coach Sean Monaghan was in attendance off Burnside to witness some Ferreira wizardry.
A hot Sunday afternoon at Jeld-Wen Field greeted two teams struggling to heat up in the Western Conference, Portland and FC Dallas. Both teams started the game out playing 4-2-3-1, with Scott Sealy and Kris Boyd the lone strikers for their respective teams.
FC Dallas–rightfully in my opinion–spent the game going back to what made them successful in 2010, finding David Ferreira in transition and allowing the maestro to orchestrate the attack. The focus on this eventually paid off.
The Timbers were troubled in their own scheme. Timbers tried to get homegrown product Brent Richards going on the right against Jair Benitez. Target man partner Kris Boyd and the central midfielders were often too far away from one another and Richards–as the states bear out–the visitors owned the second ball throughout the match.
Richards inability to beat Benitez and get crosses in the middle let to the Timbers to channeling attacks through the feet of Franck Songo’o. His battle with FC Dallas right back Zach Loyd was the theme the rest of the first half, Songo’o showing signs of promise and flash however lacking the final product. Loyd often stood him up until he had extra help, usually coming from winger Fabian Castillo–just a little bit of help that is. The Timbers again became predictable in attack.
The second half started with David Ferriera showing why he was MLS 2010 MVP.
It was a vintage FC Dallas play and their fans at home must have a glimmer of hope for the rest of the season. The progression goes like this:
> Ferreira, given ample space, plays a beautifully weighted ball to Brek Shea.
> Scott Sealy takes of far post on defender David Horst.
> Shea beats Kimura to the ball and hit out-swinger into the box.
> Sealy finishes his run and the play with your garden variety sitter.
This was Sealy’s second goal in MLS since 2008, both coming this year again the Timbers. That has to add insult to the Timberatti.
Luckily, Dallas capitulated with Loyd grabbing of fist of Songo’s kit and after Portland was up a man and created width now in a 4-4-2 had a ball bounce on a rebound to the maligned Jack Jewsbury who buried it for creaky home draw.
Jewsbury’s goal helped camouflage a wasteful 15 minutes from Portland who lacked the creativity to break down FC Dallas even with a +1 advantage.
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Five losses and now a draw under interim head coach Gavin Wilkinson, one has to wonder why and how the interim man can merely leave Boyd stranded up top.
Meanwhile Dallas might have lit the fuse finally on the season with Sealy’s goal. A healthy Blas Perez and the continued resurgence of David Ferreira through passes like the one above might mean the Hoops are past their nadir.
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