MLS points leader FC Dallas battled to a thrilling stalemate with New York City FC on Saturday evening in front of 25,204 at Yankee Stadium. The game produced several moments of quality football but there were just as many mishaps in the game’s storyline.
FC Dallas entered the match fresh off their title-claiming 4-2 victory over the New England Revolution in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The game sprung into life in the eighth minute when New York native Tommy McNamara opened the scoring for the home side. Fullback Ronald Matarrita delivered a measured diagonal ball from the left side to Englishman Jack Harrison who one-touched to McNamara. The pass put him through one-on-one with the keeper and he finished low to the keeper’s right.
FC Dallas responded 12 minutes later in a move that started from a throw in. Argentine striker Maximiliano Urruti controlled the ball and beat NYCFC’s McNamara on the dribble, taking the ball deep into the box toward the byline. Rather than cross, Urruti blasted a shot from an impossible angle that clipped the bottom of the crossbar and went into the goal.
The first half ended with a 1-1 scoreline. New York City FC had more of the ball, but FC Dallas had better opportunities to score. The half was also marked by a litany of fouls and restarts. Also of note, NYCFC’s Frank Lampard left the game with a calf injury in the 42nd minute.
FC Dallas took the lead early in the second half. Max Urruti was involved again, starting the move on the left side of Dallas’ attack. He centered for Mauro Rosales who was afforded space at the top of the box. Rosales one-touched behind New York’s back line, who was playing an offside trap. They weren’t in sync though, and the excellent Michael Barrios found himself alone with the keeper. He passed the ball into the net from close range, and FC Dallas was in the lead.
The home side found an equalizer in the 78th minute of this back and forth contest. Jack Harrison streaked into space down the left side of New York’s attack and delivered a delicious cross into substitute Khiry Shelton, who leapt and thundered home a challenged header from the center of the box. Shelton’s goal was only the fourth headed goal scored by NYCFC this season out of 51 total goals scored.
The last ten minutes of the match saw passages of open play, with both teams spurning glorious chances to win the game. Dallas’ Barrios missed an open net from two yards out. He attempted a backheel when it looked like a standard tap-in would do. Dallas substitute Tesho Akindele was put through for a hockey shootout style one-on-one with New York keeper Chris Seitz, but could not convert. In stoppage time, a clever restart from David Villa helped Steven Mendoza get behind Dallas’s defense for yet another one-on-one. It looked like NYCFC would steal the victory right at the death, but he pulled his shot agonizingly wide right of goal.
So the points were shared between these two clubs near the top of the MLS standings. The result leaves FC Dallas five points clear of the LA Galaxy at the top of the Western Conference. New York City FC remains in third place, tied with NY Red Bulls on points and two points behind Eastern Conference leaders Toronto FC.
