Let's be happy with the Crew's draw on the road

A win would have been better, but MLS is a tough place to win on the road. When you’re locked in a tight battle for playoff seeding, getting any points away from home is a good thing. So, let’s be happy with the Crew’s 1-1 draw with FC Dallas Saturday night.

The Toros are not an easy team to play. They don’t score a whole lot (34 goals scored), but they don’t give up much either (33 against). Only one other team in MLS has conceded fewer goals. Also, they’ve lost just three times in fifteen games at home. The Crew coming away with a draw at their place is ok with me.

Things got off to a good start for the Crew. It is officially scored as an own goal because a Dallas player put it into their net while trying to clear the shot, but the Crew’s tally in the 24th minute belongs to Diego Rossi, after a nifty give-and-go with Alex Matan. But, Dallas equalized late in the half when Jader Obrian slipped between Steven Moreira and Julian Gressel to put a header past Patrick Schulte. The Crew goalkeeper looked like he misjudged the shot and was handcuffed by it. Obrian has been on a two goal-two assist tear in his last three games.

The Crew had two golden opportunities to add to their one-goal total. In the third minute, Rossi’s chip over Dallas keeper Maarten Paes was cleared away at the last second by Nkosi Tafari. Rossi was set up by a beautiful lofting pass from Malte Amundsen. Later, Matan sent a perfect through ball to Cucho in the 66th minute. Although his shot beat Paes, it hit the inside of the left post and ricocheted harmlessly away. While each team had their chances, the Crew had the better opportunities and forced Paes to make four saves.

Three points would be nicer, but that one they got Saturday night in Dallas has the Crew in third place, for now, in the Eastern Conference with a huge game with Philadelphia on the horizon.