Dante Sealy scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time, and FC Dallas stunned the visiting San Jose Earthquakes with a 2-1 victory Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.
In a match that looked destined to end in a fourth consecutive 1-1 draw between these Western Conference foes, the promising Sealy came through late.
After missing some key chances at times Saturday, Sealy controlled the ball on a late Dallas surge, then sent it low and hard, off the hand of sprawling San Jose goalkeeper Daniel (seven saves) and tucked inside the far post for an improbable season-opening winner.
The loss would seem emotionally devastating for the Earthquakes, who opened the scoring just six minutes into the match. After Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes (four saves) got a hand on Jack Skahan’s strike, which was deflected as it went toward the net, Benjamin Kikanovic was there to pounce for an easy short-range score.
Dallas, meanwhile, played without injured Jesus Ferreira, who led the team with 12 goals last season, and touted Croatian newcomer Petar Musa, who is awaiting his work visa. Still, Dallas controlled possession from the start of the match, and tied the score in the 25th minute.
Off a corner, the ball was sent in front of the San Jose goal, then shot out to Asier Illarramendi, who maintained possession, then successfully delivered a left-foot strike from the top of the box.
San Jose threatened twice within the first 10 minutes of the second half, the most promising off another drive from Kikanovic, who was stopped by Paes.
Dallas also pushed before and after the hour mark. However, San Jose keeper Daniel, who like Paes answered the bell often on the evening, came through with a key extended punch on a 73rd-minute strike from Dallas rookie Logan Farrington, whose prime header chance cleared the crossbar one minute later.
Dallas owned a 22-10 advantage in total shots and 9-1 in corners on the night.
–Field Level Media
