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FC Dallas 1-1 tie stops three-game losing streak

11:22 PM CDT on Saturday, May 16, 2009

By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
khairopoulos@dallasnews.com

FRISCO – It took Andre Rocha's legs-extended perfectly-timed shot past Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller in the third minute of stoppage time of the first half to stop the bleeding.

The goal didn't give FC Dallas a much-needed win, but it did lift the club to a 1-1 tie, ended a three-game losing streak.

FCD (1-6-2), which gained one point in its first game at Pizza Hut Park since April 19, couldn't afford to pile on its troubles with a loss at home.

Coach Schellas Hyndman said that before the game he drew a picture for his team. He sketched a figure halfway up a slippery slope.

"We had the opportunity to move up the hill, or continue to slip down," he said. "I think we took a step forward. It's been frustrating. ... If we can produce what we saw in the second half, I think we'll be working our way up that hill."

With the score tied, Dallas received a boost in the second half from switching to a 3-5-2 formation from its standard 4-4-2. And forward Brek Shea, who came in for injured Jeff Cunningham in the 24th minute, added bite to FCD's more aggressive attack, narrowly missing a couple scoring chances, including a header that went straight to Keller in the 69th minute.

"He's a big body, he's a quick player," Hyndman said of the 19-year-old. "He plays pretty courageously. He believes in himself, he takes people on."

Getty Images
Getty Images
FC Dallas' Drew Moor challenges Seattle's Steve Zakuani for the ball Saturday.

FCD also switched to the formation after defender Steve Purdy (knee) couldn't return after halftime. Dallas had already lost Cunningham (left hip) and defender George John (right hamstring) in the first half. Pablo Ricchetti dropped down to center back.

Dallas looked the opposite of feisty in the first half, as it withstood multiple chances from Seattle, an expansion club in its first season but in second place in the Western Conference.

Seattle took the lead in the 18th minute when Dallas keeper Ray Burse blundered by coming out of the box even though Seattle's Jhon Kennedy Hurtado was marked by Marcelo Saragosa.

Hurtado won the ball and popped it into the open net.

Hyndman said he was satisfied with how Burse, who started his seventh game in place of injured Dario Sala, recovered after the poor decision.

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