Sounders FC suffers another late-game disappointment, ties FC Dallas 2-2

FRISCO, Texas — After another late-game disappointment on the road, Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid turned to analogy to describe the 2-2 draw with FC Dallas.

"You feel basically like you went to Christmas," he said, "and the toy you expected to get wasn't under the tree. Somebody stole it. And it got stolen away from us today."

That thief, according to Schmid, was referee Terry Vaughn, who awarded a controversial penalty kick to the home team in the final minute of stoppage time Thursday night. Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham converted the tying kick — his second of the game — in front of 8,512 fans at Pizza Hut Park.

Schmid said it was a goal that never should have happened.

"Bad call. It's just a bad call," said Schmid, who said he was told by some Dallas players that the referee had made the wrong decision.

"I just think he (Vaughn) had a bad game. Everybody has an off day. He had an off day."

The disappointing draw was a familiar situation for Seattle, which had allowed a tying stoppage-time goal against Real Salt Lake two weeks ago.

"It was a tough, tough way to give away two points," said defender Tyrone Marshall. "It was the second game on the road that we've given away two points (at the end). We deserved more than what we got tonight."

Seattle (2-1-2) had taken a 2-1 lead in the 55th minute with a strike by Fredy Montero for a picture-perfect goal from long distance.

After earning a foul 41 yards from the Dallas goal, Montero stepped up and drilled a world-class free kick that bent over a two-man wall and past diving goalkeeper Dario Sala.

"I think Sala was expecting him to cross it and not necessarily shoot it," Schmid said of the goal.

After trailing 1-0, Sounders FC equalized in the 38th minute when midfielder Steve Zakuani received a pass on the left wing from Osvaldo Alonso and dribbled free for 35 yards on goal before firing a shot past Sala.

Dallas (0-1-3) had taken a 1-0 lead on a 27th-minute penalty kick by Cunningham, who collided with Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller in the penalty box.

Keller took a knee to the head on the play and had to be subbed off at halftime with blurred vision. Backup Terry Boss made his Sounders FC debut in replacement and made a reflex save in the 74th minute on an Atiba Harris header, but couldn't save Cunningham's penalty kick at the end.

"I'm just disappointed we lost — or tied," said Boss, catching himself. "It feels like a loss."

Zakuani said a quick turnaround — Seattle plays at Toronto on Sunday — will help the team get over the letdown.

"I think it's a good thing. Because if we had a week off, maybe we'd get down on ourselves," Zakuani said. "Now we can go out Sunday and get three points."

Notes

• Seattle rookie David Estrada was in the starting lineup for the first time in his professional career. Roger Levesque and Brad Evans also returned to the starting lineup Thursday.

• Freddie Ljungberg (groin strain) didn't start for the first time this season, but entered the game in the 78th minute as a substitute for Montero.

• Dallas defender George John is a Shoreline native, who played for Shorewood High School and collegiately at Washington. John received a yellow card in the seventh minute for a hard foul on Levesque.

• Sounders FC is 4-1-3 in its last eight road games. Dallas is 7-0-4 in its last 11 at home.

• Midfielder Sanna Nyassi, who did not make the trip, was named MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Month for his work to prevent malaria.

Joshua Mayers: 206-464-3184 or jmayers@seattletimes.com

Sounders FC 2, FC Dallas 2

Seattle	1 1 — 2
FC Dallas	1 1 — 2

First half — 1, FC Dallas, Cunningham 2 (penalty kick), 28th minute. 2, Seattle FC, Zakuani 2 (Alonso), 39th. Second half — 3, Seattle FC, Montero 2, 55th. 4, FC Dallas, Cunningham 3 (penalty kick), 50th+. Shots — FC Dallas 14, Seattle 6. Shots on goal — Seattle 4, FC Dallas 3. Saves — FC Dallas 2, Seattle 1. Fouls — Seattle 19, FC Dallas 16. Corner kicks — FC Dallas 5, Seattle 1. Offsides — Seattle 3, FC Dallas 2. Goalies — Seattle FC, Kasey Keller; FC Dallas, Dario Sala. Yellow cards — John, FC Dallas, 8th; Marshall, Seattle FC, 21st; Montero, Seattle FC, 44th. Referee — Terry Vaughn. Assistant referees — Sean Hurd. Jason Cullum. 4th official — Alejandro Mariscal. A — 8,512 (21,193)

Lineups

Seattle FC — Kasey Keller (Terry Boss, 45th), Tyrone Marshall, Leo Gonzalez, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, James Riley, Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso, Steve Zakuani, David Estrada (Pat Noonan, 69th), Fredy Montero (Freddie Ljungberg, 77th), Roger Levesque.

FC Dallas — Dario Sala, Ugo Ihemelu, Jair Benitez (Brek Shea, 72nd), George John, Heath Pearce, David Ferreira, Zach Loyd (Jason Yeisley, 81st), Daniel Hernandez, Dax McCarty (Eric Avila, 64th), Jeff Cunningham, Atiba Harris.