FRISCO, Texas – Much can be learned about a player's professionalism by gauging their reaction to adversity. In the case of FC Dallas forward Blas Perez, the response to a variety of challenges was clearly answered in the affirmative on Saturday, with the Panamanian forward returning from a busy week on international duty to score both goals in a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
“I am glad for him. He set the path, and the boys follow him,” said FCD head coach Oscar Pareja. “Blas set the tone for this group, in the locker room and off the field also. In the field you saw it – he is a player who gives all what he has, and the game rewarded him with two goals today.
“We needed him today.”
It was a key victory for Dallas, as it creates an eight-point gap between the Texas club and the Whitecaps for the fourth spot in the Western Conference, and keeps them just one point behind Real Salt Lake for the third spot. For a team that have not made the playoffs since 2011 – and had just lost their first back-to-back games since May – this was a very necessary win.
“We worked hard and I am happy for it,” Perez said through an interpreter after the game. “Everything went the way we planned.”
Perez missed the FC Dallas match in Chicago two weeks ago after receiving a red card in the August 22 match against Real Salt Lake, and then was away from the team for last weekend’s rematch with RSL as he was with Panama in the Copa Centroamericana, where he played two matches this week.
Pareja spoke highly of the forward’s desire to play on short rest for an important home match.
“He had a couple of days where the load of the training was low,” Pareja said. “We made sure he [regenerated] well, but his heart is there.”
Said Perez: “I was a little bit tired, but I recovered quick, so I told him I was ready to play.”
The red card Perez received in the match against RSL was for a second yellow card for simulation in a confrontation with Salt Lake defender Chris Schuler. His game tonight showed the same level of energy, passion and persistence that has defined his career.
“I think he is gaining the respect that he deserves,” Pareja said. “He is a physical player, his temper is not the calmest, but that is the way he plays the game.”
In addition to the passion, on Saturday Perez finished the way a veteran forward is expected to finish – and it was the difference at a key moment for FC Dallas.
