Following the FC Dallas game at San Jose this weekend, I saw several reports and headlines saying FCD "salvaged" a point. They didn't salvage a point though, this was a grind. On this day the gutted FCD roster had to dig deep, work their tail off, and they earned a point.

A point on the road with the roster pieces they have left is a win in just about every way you want it to be. Dallas sites at 5th in the West, 2 points behind Houston who have played 3 fewer games.

Let's break it down.

Lineups and Tactics

FC Dallas continued with their double pivot 4-3-3 (or 4-2-3-1 if you prefer). Missing six mids for call-ups, plus Santiago Mosquera through injury, Thomas Roberts got his 2nd straight start as the 10.

Ryan Hollingshead started in his 6th different position of this season as the holding mid. Jacori Hayes was also back in. Reto Ziegler started at left back with Bressan in the middle. With Jesse Gonzalez out with some ankle troubles, Jimmy Maurer was in goal.

FC Dallas starting XI at San Jose Earthquakes. (6-8-19) (FCD / FC Dallas)

In the 64th minute, Coach Luchi Gonzalez brought on Francis Atuahene for Michael Barrios to freshen up the attack. Thomas Roberts pushed his PT up to the 77th minute this time before he was replaced by Ema Twumasi. And lastly Bryan Reynolds game on for Dom Badji in the 84th minute to get some renewed energy and try to kill the game off.

San Jose, who was also missing a fair number of players to call-ups, went with their usual 4-2-3-1.

The San Jose Earthquakes starting XI vs FC Dallas. (6-8-19) (MLS / MLS)

Both the Quakes subs were offensive in nature to try and win the game at home. Paul Marie for Marcos Lopez in the 70th minute and Siad Haji for Valeri Qazaishvili in the 77th minute.

Goals

1-0 San Jose Earthquakes own-goal. 27th minute. Are you kidding me? Another one? And honestly, this is one of the worst keeper mess-ups you will ever see. With no pressure, San Jose keeper Daniel Vega plays it wide to a defender, who passes it back... Vega goes to trap it, takes his eyes off the ball, and it goes between his feet. Unreal. Own-Goal is now 2nd behind Jesus Ferreira - who has 4 - for the FC Dallas goal-scoring lead with 3.

since I was a kid I chose the most beautiful position in football (goalkeeper) today I failed but as I have done all my life I have to get up because I demand it . haters,sorry but mentally I’m stronger than you ✌🏽#Godwithme pic.twitter.com/10fHuuPPRr — Daniel vega (@indiovega) June 9, 2019

Respect to Vega for owning it afterward.

1-1 San Jose Earthquakes goal. 46th minute. The MLS All-Time leading scorer Chris Wondolowski does it again. He makes a late run into the box and isn't marked. A nice cross from Magnus Eriksson for a classic Wondo goal.

1-2 San Jose Earthquakes goal. 54th minute. Tommy Thompson digs out a deep, end-line ball and lays it back to Magnus Eriksson who smashes it home. VAR rules the ball over the line for a goal after it looked like Matt Hedges might have made a great double goal line save. Goal looks to be the correct call in slo-mo.

2-2 FC Dallas goal. 65th minute. Literally seconds after he subs in for his MLS debut, Francis Atuahene cuts back in from the right and hits an outside-of-the-foot swerve into the far left corner of the goal. Vega perhaps a little out of position, but class finish by Atuahene.

As a forward, as a winger, my instinct, when I get a ball in that kind of position, is to score. So when I got the opportunity and I saw the goalie moving and then I just didn't think, I knew what I needed to do, so I just hit the target and I was very excited that it ended up being a goal. - Francis Atuahene.

El Bueno

Jimmy Maurer the Man of the Match for me. This guys is the consummate pro. He keeps himself fit, sharp, and ready to play. He came up with two terrific saves to keep the game without FCD's reach. Here's one of them.

Jacori Hayes was also fantastic again. Partnered with the kid, Roberts, as a 10 and a winger/outside back as a 6, Hollingshead, Hayes was doing some seriously heaving lifting and was top notch as he has been of late. 58 touches, 1 shot (on goal), 1 key pass, 82% passing, 1 dribble, fouled 3 times, and dispossessed only once. 1 tackle and 2 intercepts.

Francis Atuahene on his birthday made his MLS debut and scored a fantastic goal. He deserved the playing time. This kid has been just wrecked by unlucky injuries since he got drafted and has fought his way back. I was so happy to see him come in.

Happy for this guy, one of the most upbeat and positive players I've seen in the face of all his injuries. Always with the smile even when he was struggling so much physically. https://t.co/tR5d3iFNmP — 3rd Degree (@3rdDegreeNet) June 9, 2019

He earned the opportunity and showed a lot of courage and excitement to take a player on, cut inside and take the shot. If we don't shoot, we don't score and he took that opportunity really well and I'm very happy for him. - Luchi Gonzalez

Thomas Roberts - not that I need to remind you - has not graduated high school and he's started two games now as the FCD 10. Did he break the game open? No. But he continues to get smarter with the ball, learning when to control the game and when to try stuff. And in this one he tried to take a few guys one, he took some risks just like his coach asked him to. And he kept the press going. Roberts also pushed his minutes up to 77. Progress.

For me, this was Bressan's best game since joining FC Dallas. Good, solid defensive play without the rash fouls and yellow cards. 73 touches, 84% passing, 6 tackles, 4 intercepts, 3 clears, 1 block, 7 of 11 in long ball passing. That's a good day.

And let's give some love to Matt Hedges, who was once again his awesome self. 68 touches, 3 aerials won, 87% passing, 2 shots (what?), 3 tackles, 2 intercepts, 3 clearances, 1 block, and 7 of 14 long balls. He also hit the woodwork and almost got FCD the win.

El Camino del Medio

Ryan Hollingshead was just ok starting in his 6th different position of the season. Yes, both San Jose goals are arguably at least partially due to not being tracked out of midfield and that keeps him in the middle section of this post. But what do you expect from the guy? He's played like 30 minutes as a 6 before this and defense isn't his forte. Hollingshead was a relatively calm presence against SJ and put in some solid numbers. 63 touches, 78% passing, 2 dribbles, fouled twice, 3 tackles, 2 intercepts, 5 (!) clearances while committing 1 foul. 3 dispossessions aren't great, but, honestly, I've seen worse.

Muy Feo

I honestly struggled to come up with anything outright bad to say about FCD's performance in this game. With a gutted top end of the roster, playing a bunch of spare parts and kids... at one of the toughest places for this club to play against their bogey team... it went pretty good all things considered. Yes, the possession was lower than you want at 42% and the Toros only 11 shots with just 2 on goal. But this is a lot of bottom of the roster talent. They did pretty well.

If I'm going to nitpick, the attacking phase still needs to be better. Passes into the final third and into the box could be a sharper and more decisive better. FCD still isn't creating enough chances and getting into enough danger spot. But again, given the circumstances, it's not something to grill them over in this one.

Next Game

FC Dallas jumps into US Open Cup play against frequent local foe OKC Energy FC on Wednesday at 7 pm CT down at Westcott Field on the campus of SMU.

Dallas will still be without Bryan Acosta, Carlos Gruezo, and Pablo Aranguiz but the three U20s - Paxton Pomykal, Brandon Servania, and Edwin Cerrillo - are back and could play. We'll have more on this game soon.