MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Battles Back to Earn a 2-1 Win against New England

Published on March 19, 2017 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FC Dallas Battles Back to Earn a 2-1 Win against New England Revolution in MLS Home Opener at Toyota Stadium

Maxi Urruti nets second brace of his MLS career

- Maxi Urruti already a third of the way to his 2016 MLS total (9) with three goals in two matches.

- FC Dallas wins sixth consecutive home opener.

- FC Dallas sells out Toyota Stadium (attendance: 16,150).

- FC Dallas defense has not allowed a goal in the run of play this season (270 minutes).

- CLICK HERE FOR HIGHLIGHTS

FRISCO, Texas - (Saturday, March 18) - Maxi Urruti netted two second-half goals to give his team its second come-from-behind victory in four days as FC Dallas defeated the New England Revolution, 2-1, tonight at Toyota Stadium.

New England opened the match on the attack and drew first blood in the 10th minute after Cristian Colman was whistled for a foul in the box on a Revolution corner kick. Dallas native Lee Nguyen stepped up to take the penalty kick, sending FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz to his right side before knocking a low shot into the bottom left corner of the goal.

The Revolution would have has a two-goal lead, if not for Seitz, who punched away a hard shot from Kei Kamara in the 12th minute. Looking for the 87th goal of his MLS career, Kamara received the ball on the top left corner of the area, cut around a pair of defenders and ripped a rising shot towards the near post. Seitz was in position and reacted well. His two-fisted punch kept the deficit at one goal and Dallas began to steady itself.

Dallas' pressure produced nine corner kicks by the 58th minute, but the team could not unlock the New England defense, leading Oscar Pareja to make two offensive substitutions by the 60th minute, bringing on Michael Barrios for Cristian Colman and inserting Tesho for Paxton Pomykal.

Seitz made his second save of the match and on Kamara in the 68th minute after the forward found space between Dallas' center backs. Kamara brought down a long pass, turned and got off a low shot to the back post. Once again, Seitz was in position. He made a diving save to his right side and smothered the rebound.

The tide finally turned for Dallas in the 71st minute, when Maynor Figueroa launched a perfect long bomb to Barrios, who ran a fly route up the right flank. The 60-yard pass cleared the last defender by centimeters and Barrios brought the ball down in stride. New England goalkeeper Cody Cropper charged off his line to take the ball off of Barrios' foot and Urruti latched onto the loose ball, walked to his right, and split a pair of New England defenders for his second goal of the MLS season.

Urruti stole the show six minutes later, swiping the ball from a New England defender and ripping a hole through the smallest of windows at Cropper's near post. The brace was the second of Urruti's career.

The first also came in a 2-1 win that was willed into existence by the Argentine, during his time with Portland Timbers FC, on May 24, 2014.

Scoring Summary:

NE - Lee Nguyen (PK) 10

DAL - Maxi Urruti 71

DAL - Maxi Urruti 77

Lineups:

FC Dallas - Chris Seitz, Maynor Figueroa, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, Hernan Grana, Carlos Gruezo, Kellyn Acosta, Paxton Pomykal (Tesho 60), Roland Lamah (Atiba Harris 81), Maxi Urruti, Cristian Colman (Michael Barrios 46).

Substitutes Not Used: Jesse Gonzalez, Carlos Cermeno, Aaron Guillen, Coy Craft.

New England Revolution - Cody Cropper, Antonio Delamea, Benjamin Angoua, Andrew Farrell, Chris Tierney (Teal Bunbry 84), Scott Caldwell, Lee Nguyen, Xavier Kouassi (Femi Hollinger-Janzen 79), Juan Agudelo (Kellyn Rowe 76), Kei Kamara, Diego Fagundez.

Substitutes Not Used: Daigo Kobayashi, Josh Smith, London Woodberry, Matt Turner.

Misconduct Summary:

DAL: Roland Lamah (caution) 37

DAL: Maynor Figueroia (caution) 54

NE: Juan Agudelo (caution) 73

DAL: Michael Barrios (caution) 90

Referee: Allen Kelly. AR1 (bench): Kyle Atkins; AR2 (opposite): Anthon Vasoli; Fourth official: Younes Marrakchi.

Weather: Clear, 80

Attendance: 16,150 (sellout: 16,000 capacity)

FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja

What were the changes in the second half?

In the second half, we found a way. We created options. We had a lot of frequency in attack. We have a team that imposes their will. It was a great night. It was great to see the stadium full and to see everyone enjoy the victory.

What was the strategy in the first half?

I thought by bringing Paxton [Pomykal] into the field, it gave us a right-footed player that could replace the speed we lost with Michael [Barrios] starting the game on the bench. We wanted to have Michael fresh in the second half. Paxton did a very good job of creating a pocket for himself but at the same time we did not have a lot of physicality. I saw New England sit back and we could not break their line. Maxi and Cristian tried to break their line but it was too difficult. In the second half, we went with more attacking-minded players. We gave them the freedom to just go and get us that win.

On the character of his team...

They have an energy to overcome. Today, I saw more than just character. I saw a passionate team that wanted to win. They find ways to win. It isn't easy. I am glad to see it. They are passionate about winning. They get it.

What made you feel comfortable playing these guys on two days rest?

I saw them playing seven games in one week against the best teams in Argentina. I saw them suffering, tried and sore and thrown out there against people's first teams. I saw them reacting well to that. I know they are capable of doing it. The professionalism of this group is remarkable.

On Maxi Urruti...

I thought his two goals represent this group well. Maxi bleeds for this team. That's an example for all of us. The more he runs... The more that he works for the team. The more the game rewards him. The goals came because he is working that hard. I don't have any doubt that we have here, one of the best forwards in Major League Soccer. I hope people give him his credit because he is doing a tremendous job.

FC Dallas forward Maxi Urruti

On scoring twice in the 2017 home opener...

I'm very happy with both goals. I really wanted to score and I did. It was the most important thing I could contribute for the team. This win was the most important and difficult three points. But it wasn't just me, it was also my teammates. I like that we are well adapted and we know what we want. We're very united. It's very important in order to get what you want. Being in this club and in this group, it's evident that if you're going to play you have to give it 100 percent and that was reflected today on the field.

On his hot start to the season...

To start this season scoring is very important for a forward. It has started out great. We're also fighting in the CONCACAF Semifinal and we know we're doing a great job. Personally, I'm very happy with both goals and with the hard work paying off. If we keep heading in the right direction, this club can make history and it's important that this team knows that. Between the coaches and all the guys, we'll continue to push and remind each other of what we want.

FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz

General thoughts on the win...

Credit the boys. We go down early, again. The fact that we were able to come back and respond in the fashion that we did is huge. They don' t all have to be pretty. Grinding out wins is important in this league. We did a great job of that tonight.

On giving up another early goal...

It was not fatigue. It comes down to individual moments. ON Wednesday, we looked back at it and there were a few things we could have done leading up to it that easily could have stopped the goal. Tonight, it was an individual effort. He [Cristian Colman] got caught a little bit. He is new to the league so he may not know how strict they are or how they act on set pieces. It's tough but he is learning. We're here to help. I didn't see the reply so I also don't have a clear answer on it but credit to Maxi and the boys up top for getting us back in it. We went for it. We made some adjustments at halftime.

On the play of Maxi Urruti...

He is not afraid to shoot. Tonight, we needed someone to step up in the second half and he took us on his shoulders and had two great goals. The second one was special. It was a tough angle but at the same time the 'keeper is thinking he is not going to shoot from there. Credit to him for coming through for us.

New England Revolution head coach Jay Heaps

On tonight's game...

Very disappointed. We did a nice job adjusting for a good part, and the first half was great. We were really good, and then they made some changes to a 3-5-2. We handled those changes well, but I feel like we have to make those individual plays. They come down to moments in the game, and understanding what the moment calls for, and collectively, can we make one more play, two more plays, to win the game?

It's not on one guy or another guy. If one guy makes a mistake, then you need another guy to pick him up. Dallas is a good team. They're not even a good team. They're a great team. Top of the league for me, so we knew we were going to have moments. We knew they were going to make subs, and we knew [Michael] Barrios was going to come in. He did a good job changing the game, but for me, right now, [Maxi] Urruti, to his credit, is one of the hardest working forwards in the league and it showed tonight.

On his team's offensive chances...

We were on the front foot in the first half. We could have gotten a second goal there. Their 'keeper, Seitz makes a big save a 1-0. The game was going well at 1-0. We didn't want to risk too much, but then at the end of the game, Lee [Ngyuen] needed to be more aggressive once they scored the second goal.

New England Revolution forward Juan Aguadelo

On tonight's game...

The guys worked really hard for each other, and it's disappointing. For them to have more chances, and finish their chances and come out with a win, is disappointing. We deserved more.

On his team's first half performance...

We pressed a little bit better, but let up off the pedal a little bit. We have to recover at halftime and come out in the second half and keep that going. We let up a little bit and we gave them space, which, giving space to a team like FC Dallas means they're always going to punish you.

On the tactical changes FC Dallas made in the second half...

They made a very smart tactical change putting [Maynor] Figueroa as the guy coming out with the ball instead of [Matt] Hedges. He a left foot that was able to pick out players a little better. Unfortunately, we couldn't adjust ourselves to that and they picked us off one time.

New England Revolution midfielder Scott Caldwell

On tonight's game...

Very disappointing. Obviously, we wanted to get points out of the game and, for most of the night, we played well enough to do so. It's just those moments we weren't able to finish off and it cost us.

On the second half...

When they changed formations in the second half, they made it more difficult for us to get pressure out wide, and that freed up some of their guys to get longer balls, better balls in the box, and that left our defenders a little more stranded in one-v-one situations and we just weren't able to cover well enough in that aspect and we just have to learn from it.

2017 FC Dallas Home Opener Saturday, March 18th, presented by Toyota, www.fcdallas.com/memberships

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