By Pearl Allison Lo

It was another close match between the San Jose Earthquakes and FC Dallas Saturday, but Pierazzi’s goal was the difference in another 2-1 game between the two Saturday.

In the 45th minute, Pierazzi took a pass from Khari Stephenson, touched the ball innocently it seemed at first, then kicked it past two defenders almost straightaway as it curved away from goalie Chris Seitz into the net from 35 yards out. It was Pierazzi’s first goal with the team and the team’s first road win of the season.

FC Dallas’s Blas Perez scored first in the 16th minute, as the ball bounced over Ty Harden and Jordan Stewart. Fabian Castillo then chased the ball down to kick it back the way it came, directly to Perez as Perez collided with Harden.

Adam Moffat received a yellow card for pulling the Quakes’ Yannick Djalo in the 23rd minute when Djalo had the ball.

Off a corner to San Jose’s Steven Lenhart who received it on his chest after a bounce, who then kicked it to Atiba Harris, Harris scored past a diving Seitz to equalize the score in the 27th minute. It was Harris’s second goal in as many games.

Things became more interesting when Moffat received his second yellow in the 38th minute, which would leave his team down in the second half this time. Moffat tackled Djalo who had the ball, causing Djalo to tumble and roll. Harris gave Moffat a good game handshake and patted his head. Moffat then turned the other way heading towards the referee, but Harris ran back to take him off the field.

With one minute stoppage time in the first half, Pierazzi’s goal was followed by a penalty kick on the other end after an inadvertent collision between Stewart and Castillo, as Castillo headed towards the goal.

Quakes’ goalie Jon Busch predicted Castillo’s second chance at net correctly, to preserve the lead and the game as he made his first penalty save out of three attempts now this year.

In the 74th minute, Djalo pulled up either due to a cramp or his hamstring, but had to stay in because coach Mark Watson had already made three substitutions. Thus, with limited play and the way FC Dallas played in the second half, one could argue that there was no man missing from the game.

In the 90th minute, the wall saved a free kick by FC Dallas’s Ryan Hollingshead right outside the penalty area.

Game notes: San Jose is now even in May play with a record of 33-33-18. They next play Toronto at 1pm June 7th for their only away game of the month.