MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Beats Toronto FC, 1-0

Published on May 26, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas (5-1-5) downed the defending MLS Cup Champions, Toronto FC, 1-0, Friday night at BMO Field.

FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, making his first start of the 2018 MLS season on his 23rd birthday, made two diving saves on prolific Toronto FC striker Giovinco within the opening five minutes. The first save denied the forward of a free-kick goal. From 23-yards out, Giovinco curled a shot up and over the wall. The shot looked destined for the top corner but Gonzalez dove across his line to slap the chance away.

Gonzalez didn't get a good look at Giovinco's second attempt. The forward crept into the space at the top of the back post and then cracked a bouncing ball on goal with his second touch, bending the shot around defender Reggie Cannon. Gonzalez caught sight of the ball at the last second, pushing the attempt to an FC Dallas defender with his left hand.

Left winger Santiago Mosquera attacked down the left flank and got a cross off from the end line in the 11th minute. A late-arriving run from Kellyn Acosta put the midfielder perfect position to score from the top of the box but the Homegrown opted to knock a sharp pass inside to Maxu Urruti. The Argentine redirected the shot past Toronto goalkeeper Clint Irwin to give FCD a 1-0 lead.

The goal was Urruti's team-leading sixth goal of the season.

Christopher Penso awarded a penalty kick to Toronto FC in the 15th minute, when Maynor Figueroa caught the heel of Giovinco at the top of the box. The Italian forward stepped in to take the kick, but Gonzalez read him perfectly and made another diving save to his left side to preserve the 1-0 lead.

Gonzalez equaled the FCD season-high for saves this season (previously 6 held by Jimmy Muaruer vs. NE on April 14) in the 34th minute. A cross from the right side from Toronto's Auro was headed low and to the corner of the goal by Victor Vazquez. A goal on any other day, Gonzalez made a diving save to his right side and then had the composure to stop Tosaint Ricketts, who put the rebound on target while the goalkeeper was still on the ground.

The FC Dallas defense tightened up in the second half, limiting Toronto FC to a single shot on goal until the 91st minute of match when Toronto's Jonathan Osorio came free at the top of the box. The midfielder tried to chip a right-footed over the head of Gonzalez. The Homegrown recovered, back-peddling towards the goal line before reaching up to push the ball over the bar for his ninth save of the night, three off the franchise record held by Mark Dodd (12 on September 19, 1998).

Lineup:

FC Dallas - Jesse Gonzalez, Maynor Figueroa, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Reggie Cannon, Victor Ulloa, Jacori Hayes, Kellyn Acosta (Carlos Gruezo 73), Santiago Mosquera (Mauro Diaz 80), Maxi Urruti, Michael Barrios (Roland Lamah 69).

Substitutes not used: Jimmy Maurer, Cristian Colman, Tesho Akindele, Ryan Hollingshead.

Toronto FC - Clint Irwin, Auro, Gregory van der Wiel, Michael Bradley, Chris Mavinga (Nick Hagglund 45), Jonathan Osorio, Victor Vazquez, Ryan Telfer, Liam Fraser, Tosaint Ricketts (Jay Chapman 59), Sebastian Giovinco.

Substitutes not used: Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Jason Hernandez, Mariano Mino, Jordan Hamilton, Ayo Akinola.

Scoring Summary:

DAL: Maxi Urruti (Kellyn Acosta, Santiago Mosquera) 11

Misconduct Summary:

DAL: Maynor Figueroa (caution) 15

TOR: Ryan Telfer (caution) 17

TOR: Auro (caution) 61

DAL: Michael Barrios (caution) 64

DAL: Matt Hedges (caution) 67

DAL: Mauro Diaz (caution) 90+7

DAL: Carlos Gruezo (caution) 90+7

DAL: Maxi Urruti (caution) 90+8

Weather: Sunny, 76 degrees

Attendance: 27,549

Referee: Christopher Penso

Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Logan Brown

4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal

VAR: Geoff Gamble

FC Dallas Head Coach Oscar Pareja

General thoughts on the match...

Obviously, very pleased with the effort and very pleased with the points against a side that is strong and has a lot of pedigree. During the year, they have shown that they are one of the best teams in the region. We are very proud to get these points in their home after what just happened last week to us, having the points there [against Vancouver] and just not being able to collect it at the end. So, today, we found a way just to hold our result. We had a good first half where we had some options that we could've probably extended the score. They had the chances too. Again it's difficult to defend Toronto when they have that many of good players in the last third. But we found a way just to find the first goal, and just other chances we could have and extend. In the second half, Toronto pushed deeper into our box, but we defended well. I thought the team showed a lot of character and I like that. The responsibility, the discipline was there, and we needed to hold it. It was a bad experience just a couple of days ago and today we just walk out with three points that are very valuable for us.

On the defensive performance...

They did a great job. We put the three in the middle, we changed that shape today and we saw the team in a different way. I tried to give some protection to the back four. We knew about the ability of Toronto's players just getting in behind. So early, Giovinco, Vasquez just tried to get in there and we knew we had a couple of players in the middle who could field those balls. For us, it was first just trying to neutralize it, but at the same time exposing with a transition. And I thought that went well.

On Jesse Gonzalez's first start of 2018...

Jesse played well. As a coaching staff, you don't want the keeper to be the Man of the Match, but that's what they work for. And today Jesse was big.

On the quick turnaround to face LA...

Last week we had a tough game against Vancouver, now we come away against the best, probably, team in the the last phase in MLS. We have to go to LA and find a way of just keep collecting points.

Defender Reto Ziegler

General thoughts on the match...

It was really important for us to win away because as you saw we draw a lot at home, so we have to take these three points away against a fantastic team. It was hard for us, but at the end I think we deserve it and now we can focus on the next game against the Galaxy.

On the defensive performance...

I'm really proud of the defense. I think that at the moment we are one of the best defenses. We showed that, we don't concede many goals. Today is another clean sheet, so it makes me smile when I see for the All-Star game we only have one defenders on the ballot. It makes me smile because I think we deserve more than that.

On tactics to slow down Toronto offense...

In the first half they passed on our left side too much so we tried to avoid that, but they have quality in the team, so I think the key was in the center. We played with three number sixes, so they were running a lot, but was important for us because Giovinco passes the ball really deep. The key was in the middle tonight.

On making Toronto frustrated...

To be honest we have to learn to keep the score. When you analyze MLS, the teams score a lot of goals at the end and it happened to us last game, so yes we don't want to cheat but we need to improve to keep the ball and keep the score as we did today. We have to grow as a team and if we continue like this, we can make a really good season.

On Giovinco...

I have an advantage because I know him really well. I played with him at Juventus, but of course he's one of the top strikers in the league and for us it's hard to defend because he is small and technically really good. We have to be cautious when we want to take the ball and the first penalty you see it's not easy for us because that was really clever, but I think we did a good job. At the end, we also have chances to score a second goal, it was not only Toronto tonight.

Defender Matt Hedges

On tactics to slow down Toronto offense...

Clogging the middle. Their a team that likes to play from the middle a lot. Vasquez, Giovinco, all those guys are creative. Force them wide and I thought that was working pretty well.

On Toronto's struggle scoring...

I don't know how many times they crossed, but that was part of our game plan. They don't have too many big guys up top and if we can get them to cross the ball in the box, we have a good chance of denying those opportunities.

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