Only three days after earning his first penalty kick save of the season, FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes surrendered a penalty kick against the Seattle Sounders FC that made the difference in the game. Dallas ultimately would lose Tuesday’s match 1-0. FC Dallas has yet to win three consecutive games this season.
The penalty kick happened when Seattle cleared a pass into the penalty box. Paes, charging up from the goal box, collided with Sounders forward Jordan Morris. Paes hit Morris in the back, forcing him to the ground while also sending FC Dallas defender Joshué Quiñónez to the ground after the hit.
“They were quite dangerous with the through balls to Jordan Morris; we knew that beforehand because he’s a very dangerous player in that area,” Paes said after the game.
“As a goalie, you try to anticipate and try to help the club. I think just a few moments before, I did a really good sliding out on a ball, and this time, I have to look back, but of course, I think if I make the decision, I still have to make a play on the ball. I have to see it back because it went really fast, and there was a collision with three guys. Yeah, I gave my everything, it was a big collision, and suddenly you have to defend a PK.”
Nicolas Lodeiro took the penalty shot. Using his shoulders and arms, Lodeiro was able to trick Paes into thinking the shot would go to the left, but instead, the kick went low and to the right, completely opposite of the direction Paes dove.
“Of course, we do our homework; I said it after the last game as well from the last nine [penalty kicks by Seattle’s Nicolás Lodeiro]. I think he put seven in that corner, so then the odds are always on your side if you do that, so I went full out. I saw on replay he put it on the side, so I don’t know even if I hit that corner if I would have reached it,” Paes said, explaining his reasoning for choosing the left side.
“Defensively, I felt like we were fine, but the game was decided by one play,” said head coach Nico Estevez. “We had an opportunity at the end through Ferreira, who headed the ball in the box. But in the second half, [we knew] Seattle would try and hold on to the lead, and that is why we made the substitution at the half. We were getting in the game, but today we were not the best in the final third of the game. In these games, especially against tough opponents, it can be decided by one play.”
FC Dallas (9-7-8) will remain in the Pacific Northwest this week ahead of a match Saturday against Portland. The team remains in fourth place in the Western Conference despite the loss to Seattle but stands to make up significant ground should the team manage to win on Saturday. FC Dallas is tied with number three Minnesota but sits well behind the conference leaders.
