MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Downs Portland Timbers 4-1 at Toyota Stadium

Published on May 1, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, TX - FC Dallas (1-1-1, 4 points) defeated the Portland Timbers (1-2-0, 3 points) 4-1 to earn its first win of the season Saturday night at Toyota Stadium.

Game Summary

First Half:

2' - Andrés Ricaurte opened the scoring for FC Dallas after he connected with a low cross from Ryan Hollingshead inside the box.

14' - FC Dallas doubled the lead after Phelipe Megiolaro fired a long ball to Jáder Obrian near midfield following a fast break and chipped it over Portland's Hunter Sulte.

45'+3' - Bressan scored from close range after José Martínez's shot following a corner was stopped by Sulte to give Dallas a 3-0 lead.

Second Half

62' - Portland Timbers' Eryk Williamson pulled one back for the Timbers after playing a one-two with Diego Valeri.

65' - Ricardo Pepi connected with a cross from Johnny Nelson but his header was saved by Sulte.

85' - Dante Sealy scored his first MLS goal after Paxton Pomykal sent a long ball to Franco Jara who passed it to Sealy who calmly slotted it into the back of the net.

Lineups:

FC Dallas - Phelipe; Eddie Munjoma (Johnny Nelson - 60'), Bressan, José Martínez, Ryan Hollingshead; Bryan Acosta, Tanner Tessmann (Edwin Cerrillo - 67'), Andrés Ricaurte; Jáder Obrian (Dante Sealy - 83'), Ricardo Pepi (Franco Jara - 67'), Freddy Vargas (Paxton Pomykal - 59').

Substitutes not used - Kyle Zobeck, Nkosi Tafari, Kalil ElMedkhar, Ema Twumasi.

Portland Timbers - Hunter Sulte; Claudio Bravo (Josecarlos Van Rankin - 46'), Dario Zuparic, Pablo Bonilla, Zachery McGraw; Andy Polo (Eryk Williamson - 46'), Yimmi Chara (Diego Valeri - 46'), Renzo Zambrano, Marvin Loria, Blake Bodily (Jeremy Ebobisse - 75'); Felipe Mora (Dairon Asprilla - 46').

Substitutes not used - Jeff Attinella, Diego Chara, Bill Tuiloma, Larrys Mabiala.

Scoring Summary:

DAL (1-0): Andrés Ricaurte (Ryan Hollingshead) - 2'

DAL (2-0): Jáder Obrian (Phelipe Megiolaro) - 14'

DAL (3-0): Bressan - 45'+3'

POR (3-1): Eryk Williamson (Diego Valeri) - 62'

DAL (4-1): Dante Sealy (Franco Jara) - 85'

Stats Summary: FC Dallas/Portland Timbers

Shots: 11/6

Shots on Goal: 10/2

Saves: 1/2

Corner Kicks: 3/2

Fouls: 16/12

Offside: 1/0

Misconduct Summary:

DAL: Eddie Munjoma (caution) - 12'

POR: Blake Bodily (caution) - 69'

DAL: Ryan Hollingshead (caution) - 78'

DAL: Andrés Ricaurte (caution) - 82'

POR: Diego Valeri (caution) - 87'

Weather: Cloudy, 70

Attendance: 8,621 (limited capacity sellout)

Referee: Alan Kelly

Assistant Referees: Diego Blas, Andrew Bigelow

Fourth official: JC Griggs

VAR: Armando Villarreal

FC Dallas Postgame Quotes

FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez

On why he changed back to a 4-3-3 formation...

"Like I said, I think we've got things in our pocket that we can use at home, away, against different opponents. I want us to be versatile. I don't want us to be a one system team. I don't want players to be very limited to what their positions can be too, right side, left side. You saw Jáder (Obrian) and (Freddy) Vargas switch sides today. You saw Paxton (Pomykal) on the left, Paxton on the right, little bit in the midfield. I think it was just the right moment to get an extra midfielder and do this at home against this opponent. But that doesn't mean it's going to be every time. I think our guys really embraced it in the preseason to be fluid and flexible. But we want to have a style of play, we want to have possession on the ball, we want to create with outside backs and we want to put away chances. I think our pressing was also very positive; to force the opponent to make mistakes and play long. So those are the things - no matter the system - we want to maintain."

On why he brought in certain Homegrowns as subs...

"This is a roster, this is a team, a family that everybody needs to be ready for today, and then for tomorrow it could be different. Those guys were the ones we felt should start and we knew guys coming into the game could change the game, like they did today. I know the first game we didn't have Homegrowns starting but I wasn't worried. I knew the guys had good form in preseason and they were going to contribute very soon. So, that's the kind of roster we have. We can start or not start Homegrowns or experienced players. The mix and mash of them are going to help us reach our potential."

FC Dallas forward Freddy Vargas

On the consistency on the team...

"I think it was very important that the first attack was from us. We were forceful. Also there were times we would lose focus. But we were forceful and persistent when it came to scoring."

On the one on one scenarios...

"I believe that one-on-one matches are my strength. Around there I lost some encounters, but I kept insisting. There was a pass that I made where we could have scored on, but it's okay and we'll keep on working."

FC Dallas defender Bressan

General thoughts on the performance...

"I think we started really well as we did with Colorado and San Jose. We are doing a really good job. The results were not good before but I think this game is going to bring the confidence the team needs. The team talked a lot about how important it is to score the first goal. This is something that brings confidence and helps us to maintain calm during the game. We talked a lot about him in the locker room and I think we did better today."

On playing next to Eddie Munjoma on his first start...

"Eddie did a great job. It is not easy to play the first game. He did really great tonight. He is working really hard, pushing as much as he can. He learned a lot from Reynolds and was just waiting for his moment. We were excited about him starting today. We were excited to see his performance as well. I have all the confidence in his game. He is a quick learner and he shows that he wants to learn. I am sure he is going to perform well in the next game also."

FC Dallas Defender Ryan Hollingshead

What it was like being on the left side tonight...

"I think the mindset this year, knowing what had happened with right back position and left back position, the goal this year for me was to be ready to play either of them and either of them at a really high level: to be the best right back or best left back wherever I needed to play. Even at the end of the game, I switched back to the right side. Having that flexibility and that ability to go to either side and know what to do and know how to connect with my winger in that side and be sound defensively is something that I've been working on a ton in 2021. I really pride myself on thinking I can do both sides and really be the best at both."

FC Dallas Defender Eddie Munjoma

On his first MLS start

"I'm very, very happy; very, very happy with the start, obviously. It has been a lot of work put in, I mean not just this last preseason, but all of last year and 2020. As you know, I wasn't getting opportunities, learning from Reggie (Cannon), learning from Bryan Reynolds. I'm just really glad it paid off at this point in the season and I'm just anxious to keep going. I'm, obviously, very hungry for more."

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