During the week leading up to the First Leg of the Conference Semifinals between Sounders FC and FC Dallas, Brad Evans said it would be huge if the Sounders could score a goal on the road Sunday night.
Thanks to an Osvaldo Alonso header and some sound defense, Seattle got just the result it was looking for.
The visiting Sounders came from behind to draw, 1-1, with FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Sunday, tying the match nine minutes after halftime as Alonso headed home a free kick from Marco Pappa. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei kept Dallas off the board in the second half to keep the momentum with Seattle heading into the second leg. It was one of numerous occasions that Sounders FC has fought back to earn a result this year, including its pivotal 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy a couple of weeks ago.
“We’ve been in so many situations like that, so there’s no reason to get your head down and start moping,” Frei said. “We know we have the spirit and the character to fight back, and that’s what we showed today.”
Pappa’s tackle on Andres Escobar in the first half led to a penalty kick for Dallas, which Michel drilled past Frei to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Pappa made up for that tackle, though, by finding Alonso with a well-placed cross from about 25 yards out near the right sideline.
Alonso’s header could be the difference in the series if Seattle and Dallas were to finish in a scoreless draw in the Second Leg. In the case of a tie on aggregate scoring, the team with the most away goals would advance.
That is why Alonso pumped his fist when the final whistle sounded on Sunday.
“It puts a little more pressure on them to a certain extent,” Head Coach Sigi Schmid said. “I know we’ll play better. Being at home, being in front of our crowd is a good thing for us.”
CenturyLink Field will play host to the series-deciding match next Monday, when Sounders FC could earn its second trip to the Conference Finals in three years.
All the club needs is a clean sheet, and Seattle shut out the top-scoring team in MLS the last time it played on its home turf. Frei’s confidence is high after recording four saves for the second straight match.
The Sounders are aiming to cap off this memorable year by capturing the club’s first MLS Cup. On Sunday, they took the first step towards that third and final trophy.
“The most important thing for us was to come here and get a result,” Alonso said. “We’ve got one more game at home, so I hope we can get it there.”
