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MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Eliminated from 2018 CCL

March 1, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas came from behind twice to win 3-2 tonight at Toyota Stadium, but with the aggregate score tied, 3-3, Tauro FC advances to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League on the away goals tiebreaker.

FC Dallas opens its 23rd Major League Soccer season this Saturday, March 3 at Toyota Stadium. That match is set to kick off at 7 PM CT.

Tauro FC went up 1-0 in the 16th minute when FC Dallas midfielder Carlos Gruezo deflected the ball to forward Edwin Aguilar. The forward would have been in an offsides position but since the ball came off of Gruezo, the officials allowed play to continue. Well behind the FC Dallas defense, Aguilar cut to the center of the field before firing a shot past FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez to make it, 2-0, on aggregate, in favor of Tauro.

Needing three goals to overcome the 2-0 deficit, FC Dallas pressed for the remainder of the half and got its first goal from Maxi Urruti in the 32nd minute. The play was set up by Michael Barrios, who took the entry pass, turned and attempted to find Urruti with a pass into the area. Tauro FC defender Gustavo Chara stepped in front of the forward but deflected the ball up into the air. Urruti cracked the ball out of the air with his first touch, beating Tauro goalkeeper Oscar MacFarlane to make it 2-1, on aggregate.

Just before halftime, Tauro FC took a 3-1 lead in the series when another pass deflection crossed up FC Dallas center back Reto Ziegler. Aguilar picked up his head after receiving the pass and played a perfect pass to teammate Marcos Sanchez. Tauro's No. 10 ran in alone on Gonzalez and chipped a shot over the diving goalkeeper to finish off the chance.

FC Dallas opened the second half needing goals and quickly earned a penalty kick when Barrios slipped a pass in to a streaking Santiago Mosquera. The Colombian had a step on his man and was in position to score before being dragged down by a Tauro defender. Referee Hector Rodriguez pointed to the spot and Mauro Diaz stepped up to take the kick, beating MacFarlane just inside the post to his right to make it 3-2 on aggregate.

Late substitute Cristian Colman made it a 3-3 game on aggregate when Mosquera ran by his man on the left flank and lobbed a cross into the area. Colman rose above his marker to nod a shot past MacFarlane but the match finished two minutes later with FC Dallas unable to avoid being ousted via the away goals tiebreaker.

FC Dallas - Jesse Gonzalez, Reggie Cannon (Roland Lamah 67), Reto Ziegler, Matt Hedges, Maynor Figueroa (Cristian Colman 84), Carlos Gruezo, Victor Ulloa (Santiago Mosquera 35), Michael Barrios, Mauro Diaz, Ryan Hollingshead, Maxi Urruti.

Substitutes not used: Jimmy Maurer, Tesho Akindele, Jacori Hayes, Kris Reaves.

Tauro FC - Ã"scar McFarlane, Rigoberto Niño, Gustavo Chara, Jorge Gutiérrez, Richard Dixon, Rolando Botello, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Marcos Sánchez, Jesús González (Gabriel Chiari 90), José Tamburelli (Oscar Villarreal 58, Javier Rivera 90+), Edwin Aguilar.

Substitutes not used: Orlando Mosquera, Davis Vergara, Jose Gomez, Juan Hernandez, Enrico Small.

Scoring Summary:

TAR: Edwin Aguilar 16

DAL: Maxi Urruti 32

TAR: Jesus Gonzalez 44

DAL: Mauro Diaz 50

DAL: Cristian Colman (Santiago Mosquera) 90

Misconduct Summary:

DAL - Maxi Urruti (caution) 42

TAR: Marcos Sanchez (caution) 45+

DAL - Matt Hedges (caution) 78

TAR: Jesus Gonzalez (caution) 86

Weather: Rain, 63 degrees

Referee: Hector Rodriguez

Assistant Referees: Jesus Tabora, Nicholas Anderson

4th Official: Kevin Morrison

FC Dallas Head Coach Oscar Pareja

General thoughts on the match...

I felt today our team was dynamic. Our movement off the ball was much better. We kept creating chances. We had more rhythm and more frequency in opening their backs. So, there are a lot of positive things. We are going in a good direction. Today, the game told us we were much better. In every game I see a lot of progress, especially in the players who came in late and are gelling together with our squad. I see more cohesiveness. I see more chemistry. Today was way much better and that's progress.

On Santiago Mosquera and the varying formations...

Santiago can penetrate on the dribble. He can beat guys one-on-one. I'm trying to accommodate all of these guys in a model that allows me to have my best players on the field. It provides us flexibility for sure. The players that we have and the players that came [in the offseason] have special characteristics. It's the coaches' responsibility to use them in the best way possible and put them in the spot where that they can have success. That's why we are trying these models and different formations to see what will suit us the best.

FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Diaz

Thoughts on tonight's match...

We fought until the final minute. We didn't give up. I think their goal complicated us a lot. They found themselves a quick goal where we fell asleep, but we have to look forward to our season.

Focusing on the MLS season...

We know this is soccer and in soccer there is always a rematch of some sorts. In three days we will have another one, so we have to look ahead. What's happened is in the past and now we have to focus on our season.

FC Dallas defender Reggie Cannon

General thoughts on the match...

We're kind of disappointed but I mean we gave it all that we got. The five in the back, we felt pretty comfortable in the second half. In the first half, we were still adjusting to the conditions and they put a lot of pressure on us in the first half. In the second half, we were really dominating, getting in the box and we just couldn't put it in the final third. We're really dangerous with the 3-5-2. We'll improve and get better at it.

On the halftime talk...

Oscar [Pareja] told us in the locker room, "keep your heads up, we got a home opener on Saturday, we just need to keep going and get ready for that. Just bounce back and get ready for the season, it's going to change during the season.' We'll see what happens.

FC Dallas defender Reto Ziegler

On being knocked out of CONCACAF Champions' League...

We have to put that behind us, but of course it is disappointing for us because the CONCACAF [Champions' League] is something special and you don't play every year. You have to deserve to [play in it]. It was a big chance for us so we apologize to the fans but today we tried our best. I think the mistake was in Panama. Now we have to think about the league and we want to do well this season.

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