NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



 FC Dallas

FC Dallas Defeats Memphis 2-1 in First Scrimmage of 2013

February 2, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas (Saturday, Feb. 2) - SMU product TJ Nelson put away the game-winner in stoppage time off a cross from Brazilian trialist Michel to give FC Dallas a 2-1 win over the University of Memphis, today on the adidas Field at FC Dallas Stadium.

Michel assisted on both of FC Dallas' goals, the first of which was scored by Homegrown player and Mesquite native, Bradlee Baladez.

FC Dallas had its first decent scoring chance in the seventh minute, when Bobby Warshaw earned a free kick 30-yards from goal. David Ferreira stepped to the kick and lobbed a pass to the back post, where Warshaw found enough space to volley a shot on goal with his first touch. Fortunately for Memphis, the shot was directly at goalkeeper Conor Hurley, who made an easy save.

Mark Sherrod nearly gave Memphis a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. The forward made a deep run towards the back post and was rewarded with a perfect cross in from the left flank by Benji Ciosanski. Sherrod attempted to volley the cross out of the air but had the attempt skip wide of the net behind FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz.

In the 33rd minute, Ferreira played a through ball to Baladez, who timed his run perfectly to beat Memphis' offsides trap. In alone on goal, Baladez tried to knock a low shot to the far corner behind Hurley, but the attempt went just wide of the right post.

Just before the conclusion of the first half, Ferreira combined with right back Zach Loyd on the flank to set up a chance for trialist Ryuta Sasaki. Loyd played a perfectly-weighted cross to the back post but the Japanese forward pushed his header wide of the right post.

Following the scoreless first half, Memphis' Sherrod tested FC Dallas' Supplemental Draft pick Kyle Zobeck at the near post in the 57th minute. The former Valparaiso goalkeeper positioned himself well at the near post and was able to catch and hold the shot without allowing a rebound.

FC Dallas took a 1-0 lead on a goal scored by Baladez in the 66th minute. The sequence began with Michel on the left flank. The Brazilian played a long cross to the back post that was tracked down by second-half substitute Cam Wilder and centered for Baladez, who finished into the empty net behind Memphis goalkeeper Cody Uzcategui.

Sherrod got his second opportunity of the half in the 74th minute and leveled the score 1-1. The play began with a goal kick taken in Memphis' defensive third by Uzcategui. The lobbed ball skipped through the FC Dallas defense at midfield and was controlled by Sherrod. Memphis' captain beat a defender at the top of the box before slotting a left-footed shot to the back post, beyond the reach of Zobeck.

FC Dallas appeared to be heading for a draw but Nelson slipped in-behind the Memphis defense seconds before the final whistle. Once again finding space on the left flank, Michel played a 30-yard cross to Nelson's foot at the far post and the former SMU captain struck a right-footed volley past Uzcategui to give FC Dallas the 2-1 victory.


• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from February 2, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central