The Seattle Sounders gave up a goal in each half and couldn’t manage to find one of their own in their Saturday evening road matchup with FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium, ultimately falling 2-0 to their Western Conference rivals.
Mauro Diaz notched the first-half tally on an early penalty kick for the hosts, while Michael Barrios tallied the dagger in the 79th minute to seal the result. With the defeat, Seattle dropped to 4-5-1 on the season, and 0-3-1 on the road.
The game was an energetic and open affair in the first half, with both sides putting each other on their heels from the outset.
FC Dallas took advantage of the frantic start in just the third minute after Sounders defender Chad Marshall was whistled for a foul on Dallas’ Walker Zimmerman in his own penalty box, setting up Diaz with a chance that he converted from the spot to give the hosts the early lead.
Seattle had chances to notch a first-half tally of their own, but none materialized. Forward Herculez Gomez had the first just after kickoff,after he was put on goal off a through ball from midfielder Erik Friberg but Gomez put his attempt wide. Forward Jordan Morris and defender Joevin Jones each had good looks of their own, but each were saved by FCD ‘keeper Chris Seitz.
The up-tempo style continued through the first half, but the 1-0 scoreline would hold held until the break.
Seattle managed to keep the game within the single goal until the 79th minute, when Barrios was put through on goal off a pinpoint set-up from former Sounders staple Mauro Rosales. The Colombian speedster didn’t miss, slotting his attempt past Sounders’ ‘keeper Stefan Frei and sending the Seattle to the road defeat.
Even with the 2-0 scoreline, Frei was a notable bright spot for Seattle. The 30-year-old made several vital saves, coming off his line to snuff out opportunities for Dallas on multiple occasions against one the more dynamic attacking squads in all of MLS.
The Sounders will hope that a return home can help the bounce back from the defeat. Seattle return to action at CenturyLink Field on May 21 in a clash with the Western Conference-leading Colorado Rapids.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – FC Dallas 2
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Venue: Toyota Stadium
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Assistants: Chris Strickland, Claudio Badea
Fourth Official: Rubiel Vazquez
Attendance: 14,630
Weather: Clear and 63 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
DAL – Mauro Diaz (penalty) 3’
DAL – Michael Barrios (Mauro Rosales) 80’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
None
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones; Cristian Roldan (Oalex Anderson 78’), Erik Friberg, Osvaldo Alonso; Jordan Morris, Clint Dempsey, Herculez Gomez (Andreas Ivanschitz 66’)
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Zach Scott, Dylan Remick, Nathan Sturgis, Aaron Kovar
Total shots: 7 (Dempsey, 2)
Shots on goal: 3 (3 players tied at 1)
Fouls: 11 (4 players tied at 2)
Offside: 2 (Gomez/Ivanschitz, 1)
Corner-kicks: 2 (Gomez/Ivanschitz, 1)
Saves: 2 (Frei, 2)
FC Dallas – Chris Seitz; Ryan Hollingshead, Walker Zimmerman, Zach Loyd, Maynor Figueroa; Michael Barrios, Carlos Gruezo, Mauro Diaz (Mauro Rosales 79’), Victor Ulloa, Fabian Castillo; Tesho Akindele 

Substitutes not used: Jesse Gonzalez, Juan Esteban Ortiz, Atiba Harris, Kellyn Acosta, Carlos Lizararazo, Timo Pitter
Total shots: 7 (Barrios, 3)
Shots on goal: 4 (Barrios, 2)
Fouls: 12 (Hollingshead/Gruezo, 3)
Offside: 2 (Castillo/Barrios, 1)
Corner-kicks: 3 (Diaz, 3)
Saves: 3 (Seitz, 3)
