In a match devoid of offensive prowess, the San Jose Earthquakes and host FC Dallas played to a 0-0 tie on Saturday afternoon.
San Jose (2-5-2, eight points) came into the match having gone 2-1-1 in its last four starts after going winless in their first four matches.
Dallas (5-2-2, 17 points) had won four of its last five and three straight at home before Saturday.
The second half was as slow offensively as the first half with the best chance of the stanza coming in the 71st minute.
Dominique Badji of Dallas stole a San Jose pass around midfield and made a run down the right side into the Earthquakes’ penalty area. Badji then hit a pass towards a breaking Michael Barrios, who slid, but saw the ball roll just out of his reach.
Other than that, the resurgent San Jose squad controlled the flow of play and had the run of the game throughout the final 45 minutes.
Dallas came out the first 10 minutes of the game, setting the tempo and controlling the flow. But after that, the game flattened out to an uneventful first 45 minutes, with each side getting a good chance in the final six minutes of play.
Dallas was first when defender Reggie Cannon pushed forward, got a ball just on top of the San Jose penalty box and sent a left-footed rip just wide from 18-yards out in the 39th minute.
A short time later, San Jose had its best chance of the half.
Cristian Espinoza made a nice move in tight quarters in the Dallas penalty box, before hitting a laser off from 12 yards out. Dallas goalie Jose Luis Gonzalez was able to get his right hand on the ball and make the huge deflection.
Shea Salinas was there for the rebound for the Earthquakes but was unable to do anything with the ball.