ºüÀêÊÓƵ City SC coach Bradley Carnell was pleased with what he saw during the first half of last year’s MLS match at FC Dallas.
“I thought we were on top for many moments,†he said.
Then, out of nowhere, Mother Nature intervened.
The scoreless contest was halted due to rain and lightning in the 50th minute. After a delay of more than two hours and with no break in the weather on the horizon, it was decided that the May 6 match would be postponed and finished at a later date.
That turned out to be 31 days later.
When the teams re-started, the momentum City SC had built up was long gone.
FC Dallas scored twice in the final 10 minutes to walk away with a 2-0 victory.
Carnell and his players were reminded of the strange resumption this week as they prepare to return to Frisco, Texas, for the first time since that bizarre affair.
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City SC (3-4-9) will try to snap a five-match winless streak when it faces FC Dallas (3-8-5) in a 7:30 p.m. contest on Saturday.
This trip south will likely invoke some memories of a strange match that took more than a month to complete.
“That first (50) minutes of that game we played quite well,†City SC midfielder Indiana Vassilev recalled. “It is what it is. You just kind of roll with the punches.â€
A similar scenario happened earlier this season between the Philadelphia Union and Seattle Sounders, when their game began March 9 in Chester, Pa., was halted in the sixth minute and then finished April 30.
Vassilev, a native of Savannah, Georgia, had seen his share of lengthy delays.
“I played in Miami for a little bit and we had games that started at 7:30 and we kicked back off at 12 o’clock at night,†Vassilev said.
When the game resumed, the teams were only allowed to use the players who were on the game-day roster when it began.
“It was difficult in a sense that there was a long delay and a pause in the game that upset the rhythm of the game,†Carnell said.
City SC simply could not get into any offensive flow and also struggled to regain its defense shape.
“We tried to continue where we left off,†Carnell said. “It just didn’t really pan out the way we thought.â€
It’s highly unlikely of a repeat situation Saturday. The weather forecast calls for a 93-degree temperature at kickoff tonight with just a five percent chance of rain.
City SC midfielder Chris Durkin will miss the match due to yellow card accumulation.
New look, new attitude
City SC will be facing a charged-up squad that is sporting a new coach. FC Dallas assistant Peter Luccin, is replacing Nico Estevez, who was relieved of his duties Sunday. Luccin is considered an interim coach.
Estevez, in his third season, led Dallas to the playoffs each of his first two campaigns. But he was let go after his team managed just three wins over its first 16 matches.
The coaching change might present a problem for City SC, which tied Dallas 0-0 at CityPark on April 6.
Carnell is well aware FC Dallas might sport a totally different look in the rematch.
“You almost forget the Xs and Os and tactical match plan because they’re going to come with a bump of energy and a renewed belief,†Carnell said. “I’ve been in that position as a player, I’ve been in that position as a coach. There is always a bounce back effect from the team.â€
Carnell feels for Estevez.
“It’s unfortunate for a team to lose any coach,†Carnell said. “But we know that’s the nature of the game.â€
City SC defender Tomas Totland said he expects FC Dallas to come out ready to go from the opening whistle.
“It always brings a little new energy to a team,†Totland said. “We’ve all seen that before. But we need to focus on ourselves and not so much about them. Just go there and play our best soccer.â€
Totland was signed in the offseason to help bolster the back line. So far the Europa League veteran has added more power from the right back position.
A native of Bergen, Norway, Totland said he feels welcomed in ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
“This feels like home, it feels like I’ve been here for three years,†Totland said. “I’m loving this team, this city.â€
Totland scored his first SC City goal in a 3-3 tie April 20 against Sporting KC.
Struggles on both sides
FC Dallas is also in the middle of a five-match MLS winless streak. Its last MLS triumph was a 2-1 home win over Austin on May 11.
City SC’s last win came in a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on May 11.
Totland said City SC has been training well leading up to Saturday’s contest and the group carries a certain level of confidence despite the winless skid.
“We can compete with anybody in this league,†Totland said. “I see a lot of good things every match.â€
Explained Vassilev, “I still think we’re very close to being good. Right now, we’re not good enough to get over the hump and get these wins that we want. But, I think we’re close.â€