San Antonio's two closest MLS teams have gotten their pre-seaons off to a perfect start up until this point as FC Dallas suffered their first loss of 2012 falling to Red Bull New York 2-0 in Cancun on Tuesay.
FC Dallas started brightly and could well have taken the lead in the ninth minute as Fabian Castillo got past his man on the right and sent a great ball for Blas Perez who struck the shot powerfully with his first touch only to see it come back off the post.
Castillo continued to be a key outlet for FC Dallas and in the 14th minute had a chance of his own as he ran his way through the heart of the New York defense only to be denied by some great goalkeeping as Ryan Meara charged off his line well to deny the opportunity.
FC Dallas did well, holding the majority of the possession in the first half but in the 33rd minute they gave up the opening goal.
Jan Gunnar Soli sent a good ball on the right for Dane Richards who was able to split his defenders, and found former FC Dallas first round SuperDraft pick Kenny Cooper making a perfect diagonal run allowing Cooper to score with a great first touch.
FC Dallas kept fighting and in the 40th minute had another chance, coming off a long throw from Zach Loyd, he picked out Perez at the top of the box which Meara tried to intercept only to see Perez head the ball towards goal but yet again be denied by the post as the half closed.
Both teams started the second half with an entirely different set of players to the first and it was New York who got off to the better start in the second half.
Trialist Jose Angulo was put clean through by Corey Hertzog but he was unable to keep his shot down as it went well over the bar.
In the 70th minute Dallas had another chance to score but again the woodwork haunted them as Bruno Guarda's volley from a Bryan Leyva cross came back off the post and back in to play, but still Dallas couldn't finish.
Dallas were perhaps unlucky in the 85th minute as Christian Ibeagha had a clear path to goal but looked to have been taken out by a Red Bull defender inside the box but the referee disagreed, waving play on.
To add insult to injury the Red Bulls got a penalty of their own in the 90th minute as Jonathan Borrajo was fouled by FC Dallas trialist Christian Ibeagha allowing Hertzog to step up and score the clincher.
San Antonio will have a large representation at FC Dallas Stadium on Saturday as a busload of supporters, from the Crocketteers, travels north for the US Women's National Team's match against New Zealand.
There was more positive news for national team fans in Texas as the US Under 23 team will take on Mexico on February 29th at FC Dallas Stadium as a warm-up.
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