Sounders FC frustrated after 1-0 loss to Dallas at home

The soccer was better, but it was hardly any consolation for Sounders FC.

Seattle earned scoring chance after scoring chance against FC Dallas, outshooting the visitors 19-7 Wednesday night in front of 36,026 fans at Qwest Field, but frustrations mounted with each failed opportunity and culminated in an aggravating 1-0 defeat.

"Guys who need to step up need to step up and score goals when we get a chance," said coach Sigi Schmid.

Fiery postgame comments later centered more specifically on designated player Fredy Montero, who has managed just three shots in the past two games without a goal or assist.

"He needs to score. End of story," said Schmid, whose team is 4-4-5 after earning just four points in a disappointing three-game homestand. "He needs to score. That's what he's paid to do. He needs to score. He's a good enough player. He knows that."

Montero, who was subbed off in the 75th minute, credited a lack of opportunities for his production. The once-familiar bugaboo of poor finishing, however, plagued all the Sounders on Wednesday.

"Every time that a team cannot score, cannot convert, they put themselves in danger," said Montero through a translator, "and once the opponent has one chance they can convert, and that's what happened."

FC Dallas (6-3-3) scored the lone goal in the 18th minute, when midfielder Brek Shea raced down the middle of the field unmarked. He received a perfect pass from Andrew Jacobson, split the Sounders FC defense and finished calmly past goalkeeper Kasey Keller for his team-leading fourth goal.

"You never want to give up a goal, but you especially don't want to give up a goal at home early," said forward Nate Jaqua, "because that allows a team to pack it in, especially on our field, which is pretty fast and the ball shoots around. (That makes it) easier for teams to close down space and keep us from really getting a rhythm."

The FC Dallas defense held on from there, blanking its fifth-consecutive opponent. Its shutout streak reached 489 minutes, the longest in MLS this season.

Sounders FC hadn't been held without a goal since Week 1 and had plenty of chances to equalize as it pushed forward relentlessly. The best opportunity might have come in the 64th minute, but Mike Fucito's 20-yard shot was just tipped over the crossbar by Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

Two minutes later Fucito snapped a header on goal, but Hartman pushed it off the post.

"He made some pretty good saves," said Fucito. "I thought we were going to get one."

Later, in the 79th minute, Sounders FC's appeals for a penalty kick were ignored after midfielder Erik Friberg was knocked down in the penalty box. The cries for a PK came again three minutes later when Fucito was bumped to the ground, but that also went unpunished by referee Baldomero Toledo.

When asked about the first non-call, Schmid said, "No comment. Toledo's Toledo."

With several late corner-kicks and crosses it seemed Seattle might score again in the waning moments for a second-straight game, but it wasn't to be.

Notes

• Seattle started its 11th different lineup in 13 games, making four changes to the lineup from Saturday's 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City. Fucito made his first MLS start in place of Roger Levesque. Friberg started after fully recovering from an ankle sprain and replaced Servando Carrasco. Scott and Leo Gonzalez manned the fullback positions instead of James Riley and Tyson Wahl.

• Shoreline native George John played all 90 minutes for FC Dallas. The 6-foot-3 defender, who played collegiately at Washington, has played in every game this season.

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

FC Dallas 1, Sounders FC 0

FC Dallas	1 0 — 1
Seattle FC	0 0 — 0

First half — 1, FC Dallas, Shea 4 (Jacobson), 18th minute. Second half — None. Goalies — FC Dallas, Kevin Hartman; Seattle, Kasey Keller. Yellow cards — John, FC Dallas, 44th; Scott, Seattle, 81st. Corner kicks — Seattle 9, FC Dallas 2. Fouls — FC Dallas 12, Seattle 4. Offsides — Seattle 5, FC Dallas 2. Saves — FC Dallas 4, Seattle 1. Shots — Seattle 19, FC Dallas 7. Shots on goal — Seattle 6, FC Dallas 2. Referee — Baldomero Toledo. Assistant referees — Craig Lowry. Kevin Duliba. 4th official — Juan Guzman. A — 36,026 (32,400)

Lineups

FC Dallas — Kevin Hartman, Jackson, Zach Loyd, George John, Ugo Ihemelu, Eric Alexander (Bobby Warshaw, 74th), Andrew Jacobson, Brek Shea, Marvin Chavez (Ricardo Villar, 90th), Daniel Hernandez, Fabian Castillo (Ruben Luna, 64th).

Seattle FC — Kasey Keller, Jeff Parke, Zach Scott, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez, Alvaro Fernandez (Roger Levesque, 64th), Osvaldo Alonso, Mauro Rosales (Lamar Neagle, 83rd), Erik Friberg, Michael Fucito, Fredy Montero (Nate Jaqua, 75th).