FRISCO, TEXAS - Osvaldo Alonso scored a second-half equalizer as Seattle Sounders FC and FC Dallas played to a 1-1 draw Sunday night in the First Leg of the 2014 MLS Western Conference Semifinals. Marco Pappa recorded the assist as Sounders FC secured an important away goal, pulling the two-match series level at one-apiece.
The Second Leg of the Western Conference Semifinals is set to take place on Monday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field, with the contest being broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network, Univision Deportes, TSN2 and RDS2. A select amount of tickets are still available at www.SoundersFC.com or by calling 877-MLS-GOAL.
FC Dallas got on the board first in the 32nd minute via a penalty kick after a foul inside the 18-yard-box by Pappa. Michel converted the penalty with a hard shot past a diving Stefan Frei to give the Hoops a 1-0 lead.
Seattle leveled the score in the 54th minute when Pappa's free kick found Alonso inside FC Dallas' area, with the Cuban midfielder delivering a glancing header past Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez. Alonso now has three career postseason goals for Sounders FC, tying Eddie Johnson's mark for the most in club history.
Stefan Frei made four saves in his first career MLS Cup Playoffs match, including a leaping stop in the 90th minute on a Fabian Castillo shot to preserve the draw.
Obafami Martins had a pair of dangerous chances in the first half, first in the 18th minute when he got behind the defense for a one-on-one opportunity with Fernandez, then in first half stoppage-time with a 15-yard rocket from the edge of the area. On both occasions Fernandez was able to make the stop.
MATCH SUMMARY
Venue: Toyota Stadium
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistants: Corey Rockwell, Paul Scott
Fourth Official: Ricardo Salazar
Attendance: 16,112
Weather: Clear and 61 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
DAL - Michel (penalty) 34'
SEA - Osvaldo Alonso (Marco Pappa) 54'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA - Leo Gonzalez (caution) 75'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; DeAndre Yedlin, Chad Marshall, Zach Scott, Leo Gonzalez; Lamar Neagle (Kenny Cooper, 65), Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans-C, Marco Pappa (Micheal Azira, 72); Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins
Substitutes Not Used: Marcus Hahnemann, Jalil Anibaba, Djimi Traore, Aaron Long, Chad Barrett
Total Shots: 12 (Dempsey, Martins, 3)
Shots on Goal: 8 (Martins, 3)
Fouls: 15 (Dempsey, Gonzalez, 3)
Offside: 1 (Dempsey, 1)
Corner Kicks: 3 (Evans, 2)
Saves: 4 (Frei, 4)
FC Dallas - Raul Fernandez; Je-Vaughn Watson, Zach Loyd, Matt Hedges-C, Moises Hernandez; Andres Escobar (David Texeira, 86), Michel, Victor Ulloa, Fabian Castillo; Tesho Akindele, Blas Perez
Substitutes Not Used: Chris Seitz, Ryan Hollingshead, Walker Zimmerman, Peter Luccin, Kellyn Acosta, Jair Benitez
Total Shots: 7 (Michel, 4)
Shots on Goal: 5 (Michel, 3)
Fouls: 11 (3 players, 2)
Offside: 1 (Escobar, 1)
Corner Kicks: 6 (Michel, 5)
Saves: 7 (Fernandez, 7)
