Scott Sealy hopeful for breakout year

[Tallman]

Scott Sealy hopeful for breakout year
By Adam Crouch(FCDallas.com)

Forward Scott Sealy netted 26 goals in three breakout seasons with the Kansas City Wizards in his initial stint in the MLS.

Now, after spending two seasons in Israel and two others battling injuries, he’s looking for an opportunity to break back into the league with FC Dallas.

“There were other teams interested, but I think Dallas showed the most interest in bringing me in,” Sealy said. “I sat down with my agent and tried to analyze each situation, and it turned out that here would be a good fit.”

It’s no secret that the club is still searching for help at the forward position.

After suffering a late season goal scoring drought in 2011, the team acquired Panamanian forward Blas Perez this offseason to be the lead guy up top.

But manager Schellas Hyndman has made it clear that the team is still in need of a second proven goal scorer and well-rounded forward.

“He’s athletic. He strikes a very good ball. He’s courageous and holds the ball well. He works on defense,” Hyndman said. “When you put all of those things together, that’s what you hope for in a striker.”

The Trinidad-native has had little opportunity to prove himself since returning to MLS in 2010.

Injuries in consecutive seasons have limited the forward to only 26 games in two seasons, without a single goal to show.

“The past few seasons, I’ve missed the preseason,” said Sealy. “Last season I had hernia surgery the day before we started preseason, which was a major setback. Without building that foundation, it’s hard to get going.”

The 30-year-old committed himself to the gym after last season and has yet to show signs of slowing thus far in camp.

Hyndman has been impressed with the forward’s ball skills at time, but in other situations, is looking for more from the veteran.

“I think he’s really looked good in the small setting games where we have a little bit of structure and space,” Hyndman said. “In the bigger games, he seems to kind of wander a little bit. We need a striker that can be a frontal player for us and make his runs going forward instead of sideways or backwards. Yesterday he did much better at that.”

Sealy knows his fate is undecided heading into the teams first exhibition on Saturday.

But he is sure of one thing – he knows how to score goals.

“I always think that anything in and around the 18-yard box, I’m pretty good at finishing,” Sealy said. “Watching this team for the past couple of years, they have guys on the wings that can get down the line and deliver crosses and really put teams under pressure. I just need to be in the box. If I can get decent service, I am very capable of scoring.”

While FC Dallas doesn’t need or expect Sealy to be a savior in 2012, the club hopes he can regain his form from years past and be a reliable scorer when called into action.

“I think this is a new opportunity for him coming from San Jose,” said Hyndman. “I think this is an opportunity for him to get back on the radar.”

[Tallman]

Sealy's brace leads FCD in first preseason win
FCDallas.com

In its first preseason scrimmage of the season, FC Dallas defeated Houston Baptist 5-1 on the adidas Field at FC Dallas Stadium on Saturday. Forward Scott Sealy had two goals and an assist for Dallas while Houston Baptist’s Kyle Herbison scored the lone goal for the Huskies in the 74th minute.

FC Dallas opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Walter Hines intercepted a pass out of the back by Houston Baptist goalkeeper Kevin Suarez. Following the turnover, Hines quickly beat his defender and picked out Sealy, who had checked to the ball in the center of the area. Sealy collected the pass before chipping a shot past Suarez for a 1-0 lead.

Dallas took a two-goal lead in the 29th minute on a goal from right midfielder Andrew Wiedeman. The play began with high pressure from Sealy, who forced a turnover in Houston Baptist’s defensive third of the field. Sealy took the ball wide before delivering a long cross to Hines at the back post. The speedy St. John’s product had time to bring down the service before sending a line-drive cross to Wiedeman in the center of the six-yard box. Wiedeman calmly headed a shot past Suarez for a 2-0 lead.

FC Dallas controlled play for the first 20 minutes of the second half, but could not break down an organized Houston Baptist defense in the final third of the field. Houston Baptist had a good chance in the 66th minute when midfielder Kris Tyrpak lofted a cross to the back post. Francisco Diaz was in good position to test FC Dallas goalkeeper Richard Sanchez, but defender Scott Gordon used his 6-4 frame to deny the chance, heading the ball away from danger to preserve the two-goal lead.

Houston Baptist did come within one goal of Dallas following the 74th minute goal by Herbison. The play began with Tyrpak maneuvering through FC Dallas’ midfield and drawing a foul in the center of the pitch, roughly 30 yards from goal. Herbison stepped to the free kick, bending a line-drive shot over the wall and into the top right corner of the net for a 2-1 score line.

But FC Dallas retook control of the match by taking a 3-1 lead in the 79th minute on a goal by Homegrown defender Moises Hernandez. Getting forward from his position at left back, Hernandez took the ball, side-stepped a pair of defenders and finished low to the back post.

The lead grew to three goals just four minutes later when high pressure from Homegrown forward Jonathan Top produced a turnover deep in Houston Baptist territory. Top collected the ball before chipping a pass to the center for Sealy, who waited on the ball to drop down to his feet before hammering a low shot by Suarez.

Dallas added a fifth goal in the 90th minute when midfielder Kleynar Mena came free on  the right flank and delivered a long cross to the top of the area to Joe Madigan. The Georgia Southern product timed his run well, hitting a strong volley to the back post with his first touch.

Scoring Summary:

FCD – Scott Sealy (Walter Hines) 11
FCD – Andrew Wiedeman (Walter Hines, Scott Sealy) 29
HB – Kyle Herbison 74
FCD – Moises Hernandez 79
FCD – Sealy (Jonathan Top) 83
FCD – Joe Madigan (Kleynar Mena) 90

Misconduct Summary:

NONE

Lineups:

FC Dallas – Chris Seitz (Richard Sanchez 45), Martin John (Moises Hernandez 45), Mark Barone, Christian Ibeagha (Matt Hedges 45), Scott Gordon, Walter Hines (Joe Madigan 45), Bobby Warshaw (Nicholas Cridani 67), Nicholas Cridani (Kleynar Mena 45), Bryan Leyva (Bruno Guarda 45), Andrew Wiedeman (Jonathan Top 45), Scott Sealy.

Houston Baptist - Kevin Suarez, Kyle Herbison, Charlie Gagnon, Walter Kromholz, John McDuffee, Mateo Jiminez, Kevin Alvarenga (Rod Osloub 58), Mark Gendi, Francisco Diaz, Kris Tyrpak, Leo Munoz.

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 41 degrees

[Tallman]

FCD GOALS - HOUSTON BAPTIST SCRIMMAGE

<a href="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SWaZi/video/854583/854583_2012-01-28-164223.640hq.mp4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://p.mlssoccer.com/SWaZi/video/854583/854583_2012-01-28-164223.640hq.mp4</a>

[Tallman]

George John, Scott Sealy solid in return
By Todd Date (ESPNDallas.com)

Even though David Ferreira, Ricardo Villar and Andrew Wiedeman remain out for FC Dallas with injuries, there were two bits of favorable news on the injury front this week as both George John and Scott Sealy returned to training.

John had missed the first few days of this week’s practice while going through league concussion protocols after he took a ball to the face in last Thursday’s win over the Revolution while Sealy has been out since preseason with a hamstring issue.

FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman elaborated on how both of them have looked in their first few days back on the practice field.

George John

Hyndman: Yeah, George, very good. I think as far as the health issue, the reason I say very good is he was out all preseason with us, so we’ve been working him a little bit hard. The common exercises that we do with our players are so different than what he’s been doing at West Ham for two months. Starting him, we’re starting to see some of the rustiness come out, so it’s good to see some of the confidence on the ball, the possession. He’s quickly getting back on track.

Scott Sealy

Hyndman: Very well, obviously this is going to be a timing thing for two weeks. I think he’s been out for four solid weeks. Just prior to that, he was out for four weeks after he had hurt himself. He’s looking good in training the last three days. We’ve been pushing him pretty hard. No issues. I talked to him. He says he’s fine, but he thought it was better not to come back until he was completely there and that paid off.

[weary1969]

Cue Patriot