FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas came back from a two-goal deficit at home to draw the San Jose Earthquakes 2-2 in an entertaining match played in front of 14,920 fans at FC Dallas Stadium as both teams missed a chance to make a jump in the race for playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Dallas tied the match on a disputed penalty called by referee Baldomero Toledo after Victor Bernardez made contact with Dallas forward Blas Perez in the box in the 69th minute. Michel surprisingly stepped up to take the penalty kick in place of customary shooters David Ferreira and Blas Perez and the Brazilian calmly chipped a left-footed shot into the left side of the net for his second goal of the year.
The home team enjoyed a man advantage for the final eight minutes, but could not capitalize after San Jose saw Bernardez and Justin Morrow sent off. Morrow, who came off the bench was shown a straight red card for taking out Dallas sub Ramon Nunez on a breakaway.
Bernardez was ejected along with Dallas forward Kenny Cooper in the 86th minute. Cooper, who had come on for David Ferreira only minutes earlier, took offense to an apparent stomp from the Quakes centerback and he threw Bernardez to the ground in retaliation. Toledo showed a red card to both players for the altercation.
San Jose's night was off to a flying start with two goals inside the first 16 minutes of the match. The Earthquakes opened the scoring in the eighth minute, the earliest goal FC Dallas has given up at home all season. Midfielder Cordell Cato carried the ball all the way through the Dallas 18-yard box and delivered a perfect square ball for onrushing forward Alan Gordon, who knocked a low, hard, first-time shot to beat Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.
Just eight minutes later, the visitors exposed Dallas again. Quakes midfielder Rafael Baca sent a perfect chip over the top and to the feet of Steven Beitashour who showed a soft touch in calmly volleying home past a helpless Fernandez to give San Jose a commanding lead.
The response from FC Dallas was immediate as Blas Perez got Dallas on the board and back in the game with his 10th goal of the season in the 19th minute. Michel started the sequence with a cross in the run of play that found Je-Vaughn Watson just outside of the San Jose area. The Jamaican headed the ball forward and Perez was able to stretch and poke the ball toward the net just before ‘Quakes keeper Jon Busch could get to it.
San Jose jumps back into CONCACAF Champions League play in their next match with a long road trip to face Heredia in Guatemala midweek before their California Clasico showdown with the Los Angeles Galaxy next Saturday at the StubHub Center in Carson.
FC Dallas gets a break after three matches in seven days and next plays on September 7 in an important Western Conference matchup against the Vancouver Whitecaps at FC Dallas Stadium.
