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VANCOUVER -- It was a draw that felt like a loss for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Despite blasting a franchise record 30 shots at goal the Whitecaps were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with FC Dallas in an entertaining Major League Soccer match Sunday afternoon. "It hurts like a loss," said Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted. "We deserved more out of this one. "The chances we are creating . . . we need to put the chances away and we need to be sounder (on defence) and not give away goals." Midfielder Pedro Morales salvaged the tie when he scored on a second-half penalty kick. The Whitecaps had an early lead but allowed Dallas to score goals 10 minutes apart. The Whitecaps went into the match hoping to use a home win to gain some ground in the tight MLS Western Conference standings. They improved their record to 6-4-10 for 28 points. The single point from the draw moved Vancouver into the fifth and final playoff spot in the West. A win would have lifted Vancouver into a tie for third. "Im disappointed we lost two points," said head coach Carl Robinson. "There was only one team that was going to win that game. "We switched off mentally twice. We are disappointed." Dallas improved its record to 8-7-5 for 30 points and is fourth in the West. Dallas coach Oscar Pareja was happy his team managed to extend its unbeaten streak to six games (3-0-3). "It was a very weird game because we could have won it at the end," said Pareja. "When you see the game you may say the first half we deserved to be leading. In the second half they deserved to tie the game. I have to give Vancouver credit." Forward Blas Perez, off a scramble in front of the Whitecaps net in the 29th minute, and Brazilian midfielder Michel, on a penalty kick in the 39th, scored for Dallas. Morales, on a penalty kick in the 53rd minute, and Darren Mattocks, with his third goal in as many games, scored for Vancouver. The Whitecaps have just one win in their last eight games and have managed three consecutive draws. Vancouvers 10 draws this season is the most in the Western Conference. The Chicago Fire, who the Whitecaps play on the road Wednesday, lead MLS with 11 draws. "Its a fine line between winning and losing," said Robinson. "We are that close but we are that far." A sellout crowd of 21,000 at BC Place Stadium saw the Whitecaps press for the winning goal in the games final stages. Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez made several key stops to preserve the tie, including stopping Morales in the 88th minute and extra time. Morales led Vancouver with 12 shots on goal while Mattocks had nine. Mattocks missed a glorious chance in the 24th minute when an open net yawned in front of him but he fired the ball into the side of the goal. "It will haunt me for a bit," said Mattocks, who has scored in three consecutive games. "We are a good enough team to get three points. We have to bounce back." Mattocks was shown a yellow card in the 59th minute following a collision with Fernandez. Replays showed Mattocks shoe did touch Fernandez, who lay on the field, clutching his head. Robinson dished up some sarcasm when asked about Fernandez keeping Dallas in the match. "We rebounded very good after being kicked in the head," he said. "He made some unbelievable saves after that. Thats credit to him" Morales tied the game after Dallas midfielder Moises Hernandez was called for a hand ball. Dallas took the lead on Michels penalty kick after Vancouver defender Carlyle Mitchell was called for a hand ball. The awkward play came on a mix up when Ousted had called for a high, floating ball. A leaping Mitchell almost ran into the keeper, causing the ball to strike him. Ousted had words with Mitchell after. Mattocks opened the scoring in the 11th minute. The speedy Jamaican took a pretty feed from midfielder Gershon Koffie, outran a Dallas defender, and beat Fernandez with a low, hard shot. While Mattocks celebrated his fifth goal of the season, Fernandez tossed away the cap he had been wearing to keep the sun out of his eyes due to the roof being open at BC Place. Perez tied the match in the 29th minute. Midfielder Zach Loyd banged a header that hit the crossbar. The ball bounced to Perez who knocked it down with his chest then kicked it past Ousted. NOTES: Koffie picked up his first assist of the season on Mattocks goal. à Ousted has played every minute of the Whitecaps 20 games this season. à The Whitecaps had leads in their previous three games and won none of them. à The Whitecaps have allowed 11 goals in the final 15-plus minutes of games this year, the most in MLS. . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List. . Im very excited about the playoffs, particularly in the Western Conference with amazing match-ups, as well as the wonderful local story in the Toronto Raptors. It should be a blast. Here are my predictions, but based upon my lousy prognostications during the NCAA Tournament, you might be better off going the other way on some of mine - particularly with the Raptors, who I hope and pray are able to win an incredibly difficult match-up. .com) - Guess whos back, back again? Josh Gordons back, tell a friend. . Louis, MO (SportsNetwork. .Y. - The New York Islanders are brimming with confidence these days, thanks to a standout goalie and a newfound winning attitude.Paul Merson believes his former club Aston Villa must look towards a manager with Championship experience as they search for Remi Gardes replacement. The Frenchman left Villa Park by mutual consent on Tuesday with the club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, 12 points from safety with just seven games remaining.Mersons believes, with the survival task a perilous one, the club need to turn to the most suitable candidate to be successful in the Sky Bet Championship. Aston Villa boss betting Who will get the job? Find Sky Bets odds on the next Aston Villa manager here. The club have to be careful as its very rare that a team bounces straight back from relegation and they need a man who knows the league and which players will get them out of it, Merson told Sky Sports.The fact that David Moyes is favourite for the job, a man who was taking over Manchester United - the biggest club in the country - a few seasons back, tells you just what a big club this is.However, Id be looking for the manager with the best credentials in securing promotion, which Nigel Pearson obviously achieved with at Leicester and Mick McCarthy has with Wolves and Sunderland. Hes also doing a tremendous job at Ipswich with very little resources. Why finish a football game and then have a two-week break and then 10 days into the two-week break you sack someone? Paul Merson Id also be quite keen to see Ian Taylor involved with the coaching staff as hes a massive fans favourite.The Soccer Saturday pundit is, however, unconvinced that Villas board will make the right decision.Why have they sacked the manager now? Theres no point, he added. David Moyes has been reportedly linked to the vacant Villa position Weve just had a two-week break and now Eric Black has got just a coouple of days to get the side ready for Chelsea.dddddddddddd Its remarkable.Im not sure the people upstairs know much about football.Merson feels Garde was always destined to fail and should have left the club after they failed to make any significant signings in the January transfer window. Aston Villa fans ask for change at the club following the sacking of Remi Garde He said: I thought it was a bad appointment in the first place. Nothing against him, but he had never managed before in the Premier League or managed in a relegation battle, either.He should have left when the January transfer window closed after they did not buy anybody. FantasyFC Podcast Listen to Merse and Max preview the Premier League weekend If you are bottom of the league and you do not buy anybody, are you really getting out of trouble? No, so he should have gone then.Why now though? Why finish a football game and then have a two-week break and then 10 days into the two-week break you sack someone? Also See: Villa contenders Pearson, Moyes in frame Garde was sacrificial lamb Mersons predictions ' ' '
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