MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Draws 1-1 with Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park

Published on September 3, 2020 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


Kansas City, Kansas - FC Dallas earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City away at Children's Mercy Park Wednesday night.

Game Summary

First Half:

4' - Jesús Ferreira forced a save from Tim Melia from 25 yards out.

9' - Franco Jara opened the scoring with his first FC Dallas goal after delicately chipping it over Melia following an SKC giveaway in the back.

30' - Dallas nearly doubled its lead but Jesús Ferreira's low cross was just out of Jara's reach.

38' - Johnny Russel blazed his free kick over the bar after a foul from Brandon Servania outside Dallas' box.

45'+3' - Sporting Kansas City leveled the game before halftime with a close-range goal from Khiry Shelton.

Second Half:

51' - Kansas City found space in Dallas' box but substitute Bressan made a diving block to keep the game tied.

56' - SKC had another chance following a Kyle Zobeck save but Bressan put his body on the line to make another diving block.

68' - Russell nearly gave SKC the lead but Johnny Nelson did enough to put him off and his diving header went just wide of Zobeck's post.

84' - Russell had another chance but Zobeck made a smart save from close-range followed up back-to-back blocks from Bryan Reynolds.

90'+2' - Dániel Sallói had a great chance in front of goal but Zobeck made the save and it was cleared by Bressan for a corner.

Lineups:

FC Dallas - Jimmy Maurer (Kyle Zobeck - 42'); Johnny Nelson, Reto Ziegler, Matt Hedges (Bressan - 46'), Ryan Hollingshead; Bryan Acosta (Tanner Tessmann - 19'), Thiago Santos, Brandon Servania (Santiago Mosquera - 64'); Jesús Ferreira (Bryan Reynolds - 64'), Franco Jara, Michael Barrios.

Substitutes not used - Edwin Cerrillo, Andrés Ricaurte, Ricardo Pepi, Zdenek Ondrasek.

Sporting Kansas City - Tim Melia; Jaylin Lindsey, Felipe Hernandez (Erik Hurtado - 90'+ 3'), Graham Smith (Matt Besler - 46'), Roberto Puncec; Gianluca Busio; Gerso (Dániel Sallói - 57'), Luis Martins, Cameron Duke (Graham Zusi - 57'), Johnny Russell; Khiry Shelton.

Substitutes not used - Richard Sánchez, Andreu Fontàs, Amadou Dia, Wan Kuzain.

Scoring Summary:

FCD: Franco Jara (Bryan Acosta) - 9'

SKC: Khiry Shelton (Gerso, Felipe Hernandez) - 45'+3'

Misconduct Summary:

FCD: Brandon Servania (caution) - 31'

FCD: Michael Barrios (caution) - 54'

FCD: Thiago Santos (caution) - 85'

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 77

Referee: Ramy Touchan

Assistant Referees: Kyle Atkins, Brian Poeschel

4th Official: Jon Freemon

VAR Official: Younes Marrakchi

FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez

Overall thoughts on tonight's match...

"I thought we started well. We talked about being a very hard team to play against. Being compact. Being together, short in our lines. Very hard to play through. I thought we showed that and then we actually gained some confidence to get pressure on the ball and we scored on that transition moment from pressure. And we continued to do that even after the goal. I don't want to say we could of. I want to say we should've scored the second goal. We should've scored the second goal, and we have to be disappointed we didn't get three points, because of what we could have done in the first half in terms of transitions, counters. But that's football. Kansas City got back into the game. We picked up some knocks, some injuries. We had to make some subs. I thought the subs came in and did the job and sacrificed for the team. And, obviously in the second half they're home, they pushed the game, they pushed numbers. We switched our formation to protect our last line and to protect our box and at the end of the day the point is valuable. We want to keep fighting always for three points whether home or away, but it is a valuable point. We're gonna take it. We're gonna learn from it and guys back hopefully soon. If not, that's what a roster is for and we'll get guys to step up ready for the next one."

On the midfield changes...

"Correct, We wanted Servania to be a little more connected with Thiago, and Acosta to have a little more freedom to break his lines. And, you see how dangerous he is when he breaks lines and puts pressure on the opponent and so that resulted in a play that got Franco in behind. That was the idea, but Acosta has versatility. He played 6 for us last year and he can do that as well. He's just a versatile center mid and we've got some fluidity in how we play sometimes and with each game making adaptations. Trying to have our way of playing and at the same time adapting to what the opponent gives us and Acosta I think he had a really good 20/30 minutes before he had to get subbed and hopefully, he's not going to be out too long."

On injuries...

Acosta, it looks like a quad. Something is bothering him in his quad. Matt had a challenge with his head, so it was a precaution. I don't want to say if it was a concussion or not. I just want to say it was a precaution at the half. Then, Jimmy felt something in his calf. What are the factors? I don't know. I thought we trained really well and we prepared. I know we traveled today, so, but we did this two weeks ago with Houston. I know the guys are hydrating. They're eating well, so these are things that happen in the game and we have to learn from them and have the next guy ready to go."

FC Dallas forward Franco Jara

Overall thoughts of the game and scoring your first goal with FCD...

The truth is that I am very happy because just like all forwards we want to score, we want to help the team, but there are always things to improve. I think that in the first half we had clear opportunities where we could have scored and had an advantage with more goals. But Kansas City was a very difficult rival and it was an important point, so we will keep working to improve.

Thoughts on the team suffering the second half...

They're matches, they're moments. In the first half, maybe we had clearer opportunities. In the second half, we suffered but if we want to be protagonists we have to improve. There are things to improve and we are aware of that because we are leaving with a bitter taste of not being able to get all three points. But we have to keep working. This is soccer and we need to keep improving.

Adjusting to the league...

One, perhaps, as a veteran, can help young players be more like a protagonist and calmer in these situations or in these difficult games like today. We must have the peace of mind to be able to deal with it and achieve that either as a visiting team or the home team. What I can add to the team is infect others to have that mentality.

FC Dallas defender Bressan

On being a halftime substitute...

It was difficult and a little bit different. It was good for us because it's really hard to play here. Other guys are prepared to play one minute or 45 minutes. I think everybody is doing a really good job. It's hard to play here and they are playing a really good style of football. Like I said before, we started the game really well and maybe could've scored the second goal, but we couldn't. The next game we can try to do a little bit more and try to be a little more aggressive. But I think everyone was really good on the field. We are growing, we started the first and second games against Nashville and didn't do a great job. But now the guys are feeling that we're growing like a group and trying to recuperate that style of football that Luchi likes and did a great job within the last year. I feel more confidence and hopefully we're going to do a good job in the next game.

On first time traveling and staying in a hotel...

To be honest, we're really happy because we were at home for four months. It's a different time for everybody. We're trying to understand what we can do better but I'm feeling really good. I have a baby at home so when we're traveling, I get a little rest in the hotel, so I'm feeling great (and trying) to do my job; so, it's okay for me.

Check out the FC Dallas Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from September 3, 2020


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