In Case You Missed It: DC United v FC Dallas

Beginning the first of what will hopefully become a new regular feature here on Ginge Talks the Footy, I present "In Case You Missed It". What is the cleverly titled new piece of gold you ask? Well, it's a unfiltered match report...

DC United 2 - 2 FC Dallas
Pizza Hut Park
Frisco, TX
Ginge Status: In Attendance

Walking in to Pizza Hut Park is always a mixed bag experience. Sure it's a great facility but the first thing that generally hits you is the amazing lack of atmosphere and buzz before a match. Typically at a sporting event, you can feel the anticipation of the crowd, a palpable tension for the coming match. At Pizza Hut Park you tend to get a general sense of apathy. While pockets of the crowd will wake up if the match warrants their attention, it's not what I would call an "electric" environment...and then you see the throwball lines painted on the pitch from the previous night's high school football americano game. Nothing says soccer specific stadium like throwball lines (and yes I understand why they are there but I don't really care, they suck).

The big overall impression I got from the match is that FC Dallas is like a baby just on the verge of realizing it can walk. You can see the determination in their eyes, somewhat smothered by a resigned frustration of the fact that they will inevitably fall on their ass again if they try. DC United on the other hand resembles a older model sports car that used to be quite the machine and is now in desperate need of a major tune-up. Put these two clubs together and you end up with a fairly entertaining match, even if DC United couldn't effectively move the ball into the final third if their lives depended on it.

The "big" controversy of the match was the red card to Daniel Torres and the subsequent penalty kick that equalized the game at 2-2. At full speed, from the angle the referee saw the play, it looked like a penalty. Santino Quaranta broke by Torres, made a turn towards goal and then went crashing to the field. In super slow motion replay, there didn't seem to be much contact (if any at all), though Quaranta claims Torres kicked his heel. Dallas fans can get their knickers is as big a twist as they like, but the fact is that play is going to be a penalty most of the time. Perhaps Torres shouldn't have received a red card, but that's how it goes.

My other observation from the match is the incredible ear splitting capabilities of Brek Shea's family. I'm sure they are nice people and I harbour no ill will towards them...they just yell a lot and at a decibel level that hurts the eardrums. Beware sitting near them during a match, especially when Brek is on the pitch.

Final top moment of the night was one I actually missed because I was interviewing Chris "Party Boy" Pontius in the DC locker room (the interview will be on csrnusa.com later today). After the match, there was a watching party in the Verizon Club at the stadium for the Mexico/Costa Rica match. As you would expect in Texas, the Mexico supporters were in full voice as the match prepared to kickoff. The amusing moment, or so I'm told, came when an unidentified individual waited for a round of pro-Mexico chants to end and then yelled loudly "Go Costa Rica!"...I applaud you.