MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Earns a Point at Home against Top Eastern Conference Team

Published on September 22, 2019 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


Frisco, TX - FC Dallas came back from an early-goal deficit in the first half to split points with New York City FC Sunday evening at Toyota Stadium to move up to sixth place in the Western Conference.

Game Summary

First Half:

1' - Valentín Castellanos sent a right-footed shot past Jesse Gonzalez to give New York City FC an early lead, following a cross from Anton Tinnerholm.

28' - Paxton Pomykal fired his first shot seconds after coming on from the top of the box, but Sean Johnson was quick to make the save.

44' - Bryan Acosta curled a free kick that misses slightly to the left.

45' - Ryan Hollingshead cut past Alexander Ring and Tony Rocha to send a shot through NYCFC's defense, but his volley went far right.

Second Half:

54' - Matt Hedges connected with Jésus Ferreira following a corner despite his close-range shot going wide.

66' - Zdenek Ondrasek fired his volley past Johnson to score his fifth MLS goal after Pomykal intercepted the ball from Alexander Ring inside the box.

88' - Barrios connected with Santiago Mosquera on a cross, his shot unsuccessfully hit the side netting.

90'+1' - Santiago Mosquera sent his free kick over the NYCFC's wall, nearly scoring but Johnson was quick to make the save.

90'+2' - Ryan Hollingshead's shot from close-range went right following a corner.

Lineups:

FC Dallas - Jesse González; Reggie Cannon, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Ryan Hollingshead; Brandon Servania (Paxton Pomykal - 28'), Bryan Acosta, Jesús Ferreira; Michael Barrios, Zdenek Ondrasek, Dominique Badji (Santiago Mosquera - 58').

Substitutes not used - Jimmy Maurer, Bressan, John Nelson, Ricardo Pepi, Jacori Hayes.

New York City FC - Sean Johnson; Alexander Callens, Maxime Chanot, Eric Miller; Ronald Matarrita, Alexander Ring, Keaton Parks (Ebenezer Ofori - 65'), Anton Tinnerholm (Tony Rocha - 23'); Alexandru Mitrita (Isamael Tajouri-Shradi - 60'), Maximiliano Moralez; Valentín Castellanos.

Substitutes not used - Brad Stuver, Sebastien Ibeagha, Ben Sweat, Jesús Medina.

Scoring Summary:

NYC:Valentín Castellanos (Anton Tinnerholm, Maximiliano Moralez) - 1'

FCD:Zdenek Ondrasek - 66'

Misconduct Summary:

NYC: Keaton Parks(caution) - 13'

FCD: Zdenek Ondrasek (caution) - 45'+4'

FCD: Bryan Acosta (caution) - 61'

NYC: Maximiliano Moralez (caution) - 68'

NYC: Maxime Chanot (caution) - 90'+4'

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 91

Attendance: 14,663

Referee:Ismail Elfath

Assistant Referees: Kyle Atkins, Brian Poeschel

4th Official: Ramy Touchan

VAR:Chico Grajeda

FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez

Overall thoughts on tonight's match...

It was a roller coaster emotionally just because it couldn't have started worse. First play of the game, we conceded, and we didn't do anything we talked about in the first play. Took us 25- 30 min to shake it off. It was important that we didn't concede again quickly because they could have scored again, and that's a credit to Jesse and the back line. They literally saved us in some crucial places. Then we gradually grew into the game and I'd say the last 15 min of the first half we were good. We were very good. And then, at half time, we said, "That's it. The first thirty are done, but the last 15... that's where we need to play, with energy". We adjusted our press. I won't get into the details. We changed our press. We changed the press, actually, on the water break, before half time. And then in the second half, I felt the energy was obviously consistent with the last 15 minutes of the first half. We pushed the game. We got a lot of crosses.

On the team's response after the initial struggle...

I love these guys, they always respond. They're not perfect. There's going to be mistakes. We know the first play and the first 20 min are unacceptable for our standards, our potential, but the boys stuck together. They found a way to get back into the game, and then they pushed it in the second half. We lost the first half. We won the second half.

On the strategy for the second half...

We tried to stay organized. We didn't use our last sub. We didn't want to just throw in a second nine and maybe lose the midfield and then all of a sudden be down and lose a point that could make all of the difference. I thought we were creating enough to attack. Zdenek "Cobra" Ondrasek got his goal. We didn't need to make an adjustment there. He was working. We were creating 2v1s and 1v1s with Mikey and Reggie. Santiago Mosquera gave us some energy there on the left. We talked about getting some earlier crosses but we couldn't score the second, but we tried. We tried. I have to be proud of the group to make a much better adjustment in the second half. It's disappointing to start the way we did and then play the way we did and know we didn't win the game.

On what this game means moving forward...

So just like Seattle we have to make this point count. I don't think 47 is enough. Fifty-one. Fifty-one is the number to us. Forty-nine? We can't depend on that, maybe in past seasons, but not this season. We have to push for 51 and that starts with a good week of recovery, look and be critical of the video, continuing to develop and grow, take the next step, be out of our comfort zone, and go to Colorado with a lot of motivation.

FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges

On responding in the second half...

Yeah, that was you know, a good response from us. Especially in the second half like you said. Coming around, dominating the ball, getting all the chances we had, and we could have had another one to get three points. But one point is one point. At this point we had the results go our way, so we get another chance.

On if the momentum will carry over to Colorado and SKC...

Yeah. It better. If it doesn't, we won't get in the playoffs.

FC Dallas midfielder Michael Barrios

Overall thoughts on tonight's match...

We knew it was going to be important to get three [points] after seeing the results of the other teams we are fighting. But it's football. We know that it wasn't going to be an easy match against a complicated rival with important players and against a team that's fighting for the Supporters' Shield and first place in their conference. The important thing is that we didn't lose, and we got a point. We still have the hope and dream of getting into the playoffs. It's all in our hands. We're going to rest up then head to Colorado to get three points.

The team didn't seem to gel, what do you think happened?

We came in a bit sluggish. We can't blame the weather because it's not the first time we've played this way. We have to improve those things, improve the mistakes we made. It's the most important thing in this sport. We need to stay calm, knowing that we fought until the end. We need to rest and be ready for the next match.

On not getting three points at home and NYC FC as an opponent...

We knew from the beginning we were facing a great opponent. In the second half, we improved a few things from the first 45 minutes. They put pressure on us, and we were behind. But thank God we managed to correct mistakes in the second half and things became clearer. We had the goal that gave us the point at home.

FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal

On his overall thoughts of the game...

First 30 minutes were poor. You know, and the last 60 minutes were good. Not great, obviously we only had one goal. We created a lot of opportunities, but um, it's a good team and we played them really well for the last 60 minutes of the game. I don't think they did much to be fair, credit to them, they came out flying and they were good in the first 30 minutes. Like I said that's a really good team, but, in the last 60 we played really well.

On coming in and playing...

Yeah, I mean, I'm in a position right now where this is crunch time, and if I can play, regardless of if I'm 100 percent or not, I'm going to do my best to be on the field for the team. That was kind of the situation where maybe I wasn't one hundred percent today but once adrenaline kicks in, you get going, sometimes it goes away but yeah I'm going to do everything I can to give my best effort for the team regardless if I'm injured or not and at the end of the day I thought I did a good job today.

On pressing leading up to Zdenek Ondrasek's goal...

Energy. We needed more of it in the first half and everybody was together in the second half, pressing. You saw Sean Johnson was just kind of chilling on the ball, being, trying to waste a little time, be a little cute and then they got punished for it so at the end of the day it could have been Jesus [Ferreira], it could have been me pressing but that's our philosophy, that's our mentality, that worked out for us today

New York City FC head coach Domenec Torrent

On feeling fortunate to leave with a point today...

No because in the first 30 minutes we could have scored two or three goals, but after that we were lacking. We played maybe 30-35 minutes amazing, maybe the best away game. But also, it was the worst, we had to change Anton [Tinnerholm] and we lose the control and we don't keep the ball. I said many times if we don't have the ball you are in trouble. But in the second half we were lucky, like I said earlier we could have scored two three more goals. When stuff like that happens, it changes the game. But I accept that, we played very back in the last 50-60 minutes. I told my players about that, because sometimes in playoffs you lose control and you have to defend compactly and use the ball to counterattack. I remember in the second half; we keep the ball for five or six seconds and when that happened you are in trouble. I've talked about it many times on why I like to play and keep the ball, because when you have the ball they don't, as simple as that. But we have to recognize that they played much better in the second half. The reason why is I don't know but in the second we wanted to play two strikers with [Alexandru] Mitrita and Taty [Castellanos] with Maxi [Moralez] focusing on [Bryan] Acosta because he is the play maker for them.

An update on Anton Tinnerholm's injury...

I don't know, we have a team doctor in New York. I am not sure what happens when you have a concussion. Right now, he told me he felt really well. In that moment both players said they were ok to play. The ref stopped the game and they had to change. But he told he was good and then had to come off 15 minutes later just like the FC Dallas player. I don't know what will happen and we will take test when we come back to New York.

On Tinnerholm' s value...

It started really well, and we prepare the team to play that way. I was very happy in the first 30 minutes because we played amazing, we built up and we played very brave. They had high pressing at the time but our build up was better than their high pressing. But after 25-30 minutes we started losing the control and they played way better in the last 60 minutes. But for me and my players we have to learn for the next game, not because its Atlanta but because the playoffs are coming.

New York City FC midfielder Keaton Parks

On the value of tonight's point on the road...

Especially with the heat and everything, today was just back and forth, not a lot of possession. More of just counter attacking football. You could definitely see that today.

On the team not playing their game...

We definitely feel like we didn't play our best game today. We have a lot to improve on heading into our game on Wednesday. We are just disappointed with how today went.

On the importance of the game on Wednesday...

It's a big game, I mean Atlanta is there in second place, so it is going to be difficult. They always play well even without Josef Martinez they have a lot of quality players. Same with us though, so it's going to be a good game and hopefully we can get a win at home.

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