Disappointing second half hurts FCD
Club plays strong for most of the match
"It was very disappointing," Morrow said.
Morrow, and his team, was frustrated after playing well for 45 minutes before succumbing to relentless second-half pressure from the hosts.
The Revolution hopped in front early through Pat Noonan, but Carlos Ruiz equalized in the 35th minute when Matt Reis lost Dax McCarty's free kick in the lights and Ruiz was on the spot at the far post to nod home.
"We were comfortable," Morrow said. "We defended well."
FCD entered halftime feeling content with its first-half performance. And then it all disappeared.
The warning bells rang after New England surged forward within the first minute of the second stanza. Pat Noonan's 65th-minute goal was inevitable as the Revolution surged forward and FC Dallas looked hopeless to stop them.
"Our attitude in the second half was disappointing," FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala said. "We aren't a lesser team."
Steve Ralston's 78th-minute strike looked to put the game beyond reach, but Dominic Oduro's cross to Ruiz breathed new life on 85 minutes as the Guatemalan international headed home to draw his team within one.
"Carlos kept us in the game," Sala said.
But Revolution winger Khano Smith capped his man-of-the-match performance with a goal in the 90th minute to seal the victory.
Morrow was left to point to his team's disappointing second-half performance and its inability to hold the ball as reasons why FCD fell to its third defeat in four contests.
"We broke down on both ends," Morrow said. "We didn't keep the ball well enough."
Sala pointed to his team's attitude as a primary reason why the team fell off the pace in the second half.
"Our attitude in the second half was disappointing," Sala said, adding that the team had to resort to the counter attack and long balls because it couldn't hold the ball.
"In the second half, they did a good job of closing the gaps on us," McCarty said.
McCarty, who gave the ball away to start the play for Noonan's second goal, said that the team's performance afer the break "wasn't good enough."
"We have guys that are capable," McCarty said. "Certain lapses in concentration cost this team. I'm a part of it. Everyone's a part of it."
Everyone now includes Anthony Wallace, who made his MLS debut with his first career start.
"He's a young player with a big future," Morrow said. "I thought he did well in the first 45 minutes and not as well in the second half."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
