FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said he expects the rest of his team's matches to be tough.
Saturday was no exception.
Michel's scored on a penalty kick in the 72nd minute to help FC Dallas salvage a 2-2 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes and take sole possession of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Three red cards in the final 10 minutes also made the match entertaining one, as both teams were keen on earning three points for the final playoff push.
''I think that the games are going to get a lot more physical,'' said Hydnman, whose team snapped an 11-game winless streak Wednesday after tumbling down the table. ''I think the games are going to get a little bit more competitive. ''
Blas Perez also scored for Dallas (9-7-10), which rallied after giving up two goals in the first 16 minutes. Dallas moved into fifth place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Vancouver.
Alan Gordon and Steven Beitashour had the early goals for San Jose (9-10-7), which had won four of its previous five matches.
Gordon, making his 100th MLS start of his career, sent home a shot from the center of the box in the eighth minute after Cato squared the ball to the middle. Eight minutes later, a series of volleys from Gordon and Rafael Baca found defender Beitashour all alone six yards out to pop the ball over the right shoulder of goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.
Dallas quickly responded in the 19th minute when Michel served a ball toward the box, which midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson nodded on toward the 6-yard box. Perez won a short race to the ball against goalkeeper Jon Busch to tap the ball into the net with his right foot for his 10th goal of the season.
Michel then tied in the second half when he put his left-footed penalty into the upper-left corner. Perez was fouled by Victor Bernardez six yards away from goal to earn the spot kick after defender George John found Perez on a far-post cross to set up the play.
''Instead of folding, you fought all the way back and you could have very well won the game,'' Hyndman said. ''I thought we had a very good game outside of the first 15 minutes.''
Dallas outshot San Jose 17-7, taking all momentum after Michel's penalty kick. San Jose's Justin Morrow, who entered the game in the 66th minute as a substitute, was given a red card on a tackle from behind on Ramon Nunez in the 81st minute.
Four minutes later, both Dallas' Kenny Cooper and Bernardez were shown red cards after the Bernardez fouled Cooper, and Cooper retaliated with a shove to the ground and an intimidating hold to the defender's jersey.
Cooper and Bernardez have some history. The San Jose defender pushed Cooper out of bounds May 25 in the teams' first contest the season, leading to a concussion for Cooper.
''Of course we're fighting (for a playoff spot),'' San Jose defender Clarence Goodson said. ''It was a very interesting game.''
San Jose midfielder Cordell Cato put a shot on target in stoppage time that was tipped over the net by Fernandez.
Dallas defender Kellyn Acosta said this game was the most physical he has been a part of.
''Their guys are huge )all of them,'' Acosta said. ''They play more of a direct game. They play long balls, so that was a challenge for me.''
Dallas outshot San Jose 9-3 in the second half.
