Union squander points against shorthanded FC Dallas in scoreless draw

The Union outplayed FC Dallas from start to finish, but even with a man advantage for the entire second half, the Eastern Conference leaders failed the take all three points at Toyota Park Saturday night. After FC Cincinnati lost 2-1 earlier in the evening, the Union missed an opportunity to extend their lead in the East, a rare night of blanks for one of the league’s best attacking teams.

The Union have never won at Toyota Park and have been held scoreless against Dallas since Amobi Okugo’s tally in a 2-1 loss in July 2014.

Playing their ninth game in the month of May, the Union went with a rotated lineup that included Ben Bender’s first MLS start as well as spot starts from captain Alejandro Bedoya, Jesus Bueno, and Chris Donovan, and a ninth start this season for Andrew Rick.

The visitors initiated their aggressive game plan throughout the first half, pressuring Dallas into several tight positions in their own end. Donovan had the best chance early when Bedoya flicked a Frankie Westfield long throw into his path, but the former Drexel star headed the ball over the bar. Dallas countered with their own chance minutes later when former MLS MVP Lucho Acosta sent a floater over the top to Anderson Julio, putting him one-on-one with Rick, but the Dallas forward pushed the ball wide from close range.

The Union pressure paid off in the 40 th minute when Dallas center back Lalas Abubakar was sent off for his second yellow card, this time on a drawn late challenge on Donovan, just seven minutes after picking up his first card for a foul on Mikael Uhre, who was forced off to injury shortly after. Despite carrying play and a man advantage, the Union weren’t able to create any chances until a Danley Jean Jacques strike sailed wide late in first-half stoppage time.

Bruno Damiani continued the one-way Union dominance with two great looks to start the second half. His header from a Kai Wagner corner sailed inches over the bar four minutes in then another header a minute later from a Bender cross hit the post and rebounded out. Dallas had two very good looks off the counter-attack midway through the half, but Rick kept the hosts away with routine saves. Jovan Lukic, a second-half substitute had the Union’s first shot on goal in the 68th minute, forcing Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes into a diving save to maintain the scoreless game.

With the final minutes passing by, and the Union maintaining all of the possession, they were unable to find the late magic like they did in the midweek win over Toronto FC, failing to win a game that had been for the taking throughout. The silver lining is that the Union’s unbeaten streak has now reached nine games.

The international break provides a temporary relief for some Union players while others continue the grind with their national teams, returning back home June 7th for a friendly with Liga Mx side Atlas before resuming their MLS campaign against Charlotte FC at Subaru Park June 14th.