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FC Dallas Earns 1-1 Draw in Inaugural Match vs. LAFC

May 5, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


Los Angeles, CA - FC Dallas (3-1-4, 13 pts.) came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Los Angeles Football Club (5-2-1, 18 pts.) in the inaugural meeting between the two clubs on Saturday afternoon at Banc of California Stadium.

LAFC opened the scoring in the 9th minute as Steven Beitashour found himself on the end of a through ball from Diego Rossi that split the Dallas back line down the right wing. The defender finished off the sequence just outside the six-yard box, slotting a ball past Jimmy Maurer in goal.

Santiago Mosquera nearly tied things up for the second straight match in the 18th minute. The Colombian winger got past LAFC defender Walker Zimmerman inside the 18-yard box and found the end of a Reto Ziegler pass into the area. Mosquera sent a chip over goalkeeper Tyler Miller and was headed for goal before Laurent Ciman saved the lead with a goal-line clearance.

Mosquera would play a role in Dallas' equalizer early in the second half, finding Maxi Urruti just outside the penalty area from the left flank. Urruti caught the pass and spun to his left, losing Ciman in the process, before firing a shot to the low, right-hand side of goal from 25 yards away.

Head coach Oscar Pareja brought on midfielder Kellyn Acosta in the 61st minute and Ryan Hollingshead in the 78th to protect the draw. Acosta's appearance marked the Homegrown's 2018 debut after preseason sports hernia surgery.

Scoring Summary:

LAFC - Steven Beitashour (Diego Rossi, Carlos Vela) - 9'

FCD - Maxi Urruti (Santiago Mosquera) - 55'

Lineups:

FC Dallas - Jimmy Maurer; Anton Nedyalkov, Reto Ziegler, Matt Hedges, Reggie Cannon; Roland Lamah (Ryan Hollingshead - 78'), Victor Ulloa (Jacori Hayes - 44'), Carlos Gruezo, Michael Barrios (Kellyn Acosta - 61'); Santiago Mosquera, Maxi Urruti

Substitutes Not Used: Jesse Gonzalez, Maynor Figueroa, Mauro Diaz, Cristian Colman

LAFC - Tyler Miller; Jordan Harvey, Laurent Ciman, Walker Zimmerman, Steven Beitashour; Benny Feilhaber, Eduard Atuesta (Lee Nguyen - 73'); Carlos Vela, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Latif Blessing (Omar Gaber - 67'); Diego Rossi

Substitutes Not Used: Aaron Kovar, Tristan Blackmon, Calum Mallace, Dejan Jakovic

Misconduct Summary:

FCD - Victor Ulloa (caution) - 39'

FCD - Matt Hedges (caution) - 89'

Referee: Jair Marrufo

Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Jeffrey Greeson

Fourth Official: Daniel Radford

Video Assistant Referee: Caleb Mendez

Weather: Sunny, 81

Attendance: 22,000

FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja

General thoughts on the match

We're going to take the point against a good team in a difficult afternoon with the heat and the conditions. The effort from Maxi was very good. I thought we bounced back into the game after the first 15 minutes when were getting too much space. They were using it and were getting a couple chances including the goal that, by the way, is an offside. Then after that we bounce back. We have the personality and determination to start putting more things together. Second half, until we find our goal, I thought it was level for both sides. After that we intentionally just give the ball to them When we put five, 3-1-1, we wanted to wait for couple loose balls (so) that we can hurt them in space. Overall, we had it, we had our chances there but I think this is a fair result.

On Kellyn Acosta's return

Kellyn came out well. We're were still tentative today to put him in the lineup. But when he came in, his range, the maneuver with the ball, the presence helped us a lot. Happy to see Kellyn again with us. I think he was one of the positives today.

On the Maxi/Mosquera connection

They are gelling. What I can see more is that they're gelling up front. The chemistry is building more, now we started scoring in the forward. The chemistry, I see it and that gives us a lot of optimism.

On Santiago Mosquera

Santi is adapting to the league. He understands it more: what is the rhythm, what it takes to play Major League Soccer, which is very demanding league in many areas. Santi is understanding it and with the help of his teammates and his work, I think he's going to keep that progression.

Midfielder Kellyn Acosta

On playing for the first time this season

Definitely excited. Sucks being sidelined but I'm happy to get back on the field. Most importantly, we got a tough result. The guys battled through that heat and the adversity, so I'm very happy with the result.

How he felt in the match

Felt a little rusty, I would say, first game back for a while. First competitive match since Portugal, national team. I was really happy to get back on the field. Long time coming but I'm progressing

Was there some rust on his touch or fitness?

Kind of all of the above. I'm just trying to get more acclimated to the game. Every game is different but just kind of getting in game speed, the tempo, the team chemistry. All that goes hand in hand. Having more games, I think I'll get more comfortable and more consistent.

Forward Maxi Urruti

On the game

With the heat, the game was complicated. The goal came in the right time and at least we are going back home with a point.

On his growing relationship with Santiago Mosquerea

It's very important. Whoever's chance it is to finish we are all happy. The last game I got to assist Santi, like he did for me today. The connection between teammates is very important and we know that whoever gets to be there needs to give 100 percent. That's what we are trying to do every day.

On the mentality of the team to earn a draw

Mentally we prepared ourselves to know that we needed the three points, but if you couldn't get all three, to bring something back home like we did today. The important thing is that with this point, it gives us energy to keep working day to day and we are on the right route.

Midfielder Santiago Mosquera

On working with Maxi Urruti

Yes, communication is always important with the teammates. I have a lot of faith in Maxi when he shoots from distance. Thank God he read the play well, read the pass well, had good control and was able to shoot on goal and thanks to God we were able to equalize.

On coming from behind to earn the draw

We knew that we could give a bit more. The game was there. The first half was a bit complicated but in the second half, the coach and everyone decided that we needed to go out and equalize and that's how it was.

On his growth and seeing consistent minutes

Every day is better. Today was a difficult test with the heat but thanks to God I was able to go 90 and I hope to continue like that, continue fitting in as fast as possible and giving the best of me on the pitch every time.

LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley

Overall thoughts on today's game

Overall we have good starts. In the first half we scored a really good goal. But the reminder at halftime was that it's only 1-0. And now there's this whole part of 'how do you finish games?' We started the second half with two really good chances. There were some moments in the second half where we were a little slower with the ball, which turned into some counters for them. So our pure ability to control the game because we're better with the ball because our organization behind the ball when we lose it, is right. So that would be the area where I felt like we weren't good enough and we then paid the price and we had a few more chances to win. We hope to continue to understand all the little things that go into those games.

LAFC Midfielder Lee Nguyen

On his first game with LAFC

Obviously, it was a short turnaround for me. Coming from Boston two days ago and now to be in this atmosphere, I'm excited to get started and I told Bob [Bradley], 'I'm ready if you need me,' so it was a good first game.


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