MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Extends Unbeated Streak with 1-0 Win at Chivas USA

August 4, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Sunday, Aug. 3) - FC Dallas (9-7-6, 33 points) extended its MLS unbeaten streak to seven games with a 1-0 win over Chivas USA at the StubHub Center Sunday night.

The match marked Fabian Castillo's return to MLS action for the first time since June 11 at Portland. The Colombian quickly found a rhythm, creating multiple opportunities for the Dallas side and completely picking apart the Chivas defense in the 49th minute for the game's lone goal. Castillo drew three defenders, dumped a short pass to Blas Perez, then streaked toward goal for the quick give-and-go. Perez sent a perfectly timed ball back to Castillo, who drew Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy to the near post before laying the ball off to Tesho Akindele at the back post for an easy tap-in finish.

Castillo almost immediately created a second goal for the visitors, racing down the left wing and angling in towards goal. The midfielder tried to recreate the previous play with a short pass to Perez in the box, but this time the Chivas defense was able to cut out the ball.

Chivas USA saw its best chance at an equalizer sail high in the 78th minute when Akira Kaji picked out Erick Torres in front of goal with a cross from the right flank.

Three minutes later, Dallas had yet another chance for an insurance goal when a corner kick left a loose ball rattling around the box. Akindele and Castillo both managed to strike the ball, but it continued to pinball around the area until a Chivas player was able to clear it from danger.

FC Dallas returns home to Toyota Stadium Saturday night, hosting the Colorado Rapids at 8 p.m.

FC DALLAS HEAD COACH OSCAR PAREJA

Thoughts on the match

"The first half we couldn't find a rhythm. We lost control in the middle, but that was fixed in the second half with the subs we made with Mauro [Diaz] and bringing Fabian [Castillo] on the left. The boys did an excellent job. We won a game that we needed to win."

On returning players

"The team is playing great. We know our chance and we know what happens if we miss it. But at this point getting three points away, we appreciate and it says a lot of the team. Getting players back from injuries and players who are just ending their suspension; all those things make us better offensively."

On getting Fabian Castillo back

"It took him a little bit to get in his rhythm but Fabian is Fabian. He made some great movements in the second half. Having him back is fantastic."

FC DALLAS FORWARD FABIAN CASTILLO

Thoughts on the game

"I think it was a tight match. Chivas created a lot of plays, but so did we. I think the game was for either side, but in the end we took advantage of the opportunity that was given to us and scored a goal that gave us the victory."

Thoughts on the assist

"Those are quick plays where one has to decide whether to kick or give a pass; I think I made the best decision of giving the pass and we won with that goal."

On coming off a suspension:

"I feel happy. I was really excited to get back on the field and I was given that opportunity to get back today so I gave it my all."

FC DALLAS FORWARD TESHO AKINDELE

Thoughts on the match

"I thought it wasn't the best game that we've played but everybody just worked hard and we ended up getting the result and that's the kind of thing that you need during the season."

Thoughts on goal

"I think it was just good passing, everyone was just passing the ball and Fabian [Castillo] did a one-two with Blas [Perez] and I was just wide open in the back post for an easy tap in."

On earning three key points

"The West is so tight right now. Every game is like a playoff game for us so we are super excited about those three points."

CHIVAS USA HEAD COACH WILMER CABRERA

Thoughts on the match

"I think we planned the game very well. It was a very good game for us overall. Throughout the year I have to say this is the best game we have played at home in terms of possession and moving the ball and being organized and putting pressure. But in the end, it's not how you play when you play well or when you play better than the other team, it's if you put the ball in the net. They only had two chances and they put one in."

On the goal by FC Dallas

"We knew that they were trying to send speed with Castillo especially, and we tried to work on that. We didn't manage [the play leading into the goal] well and it cost us.

On Chivas USA's scoring chances

"We had chances, especially at the end, when we put pressure. We made some changes, we moved some players and we had a clear chance with [Erick Torres], where normally he scores but we couldn't."

On the positives from today's performance

"We have to continue thinking that at least we had a good mentality today in the game, we had good possession moving the ball, we out possessed the other team, and we can do it. Dallas is a very good team, it's one of the top teams in the Western Conference. We out possessed them, we moved the ball better, we were putting pressure on them and they didn't create too many chances on us so that's a good idea on how to continue working with the next thirteen games that we have ahead of us."

CHIVAS USA GOALKEEPER DAN KENNEDY

Overall thoughts on the game:

"It was a good performance. I think that was literally the first thing I said after the game. It was one play, literally one play beat us and unfortunately we weren't able to capitalize on the good crosses that we had tonight. Surely, if we can continue to play like we played tonight, we'll be playing for something. We just have to make sure we stay positive and be mindful of the good things that came out of the game tonight."

On Dallas' performance:

"Castillo is just so tricky and quick on the ball. He's really tough to defend. They got a really good combination play and really it was just that one play that they capitalized on. He did have a chance later in the game, but that's just because we were pushing so hard. If we could've just kept that first one out, I think it could've been definitely a 0-0 draw. Diaz came on and he found really good spaces, but I have no complaints about our effort tonight."

On Chivas USA's backline performance:

"I think they stepped up and did a very good job. You're going to need depth in this league and during this long season, so it's good that we had a good performance tonight out of them."

CHIVAS USA MIDFIELDER MAURO ROSALES

On returning for the first time after hamstring injury and on his thoughts on the game

"[I felt] very good. I think I got in with a good concentration, with a good pace and I feel much better than the last game that I couldn't play. [However] it wasn't enough to give something to the team to get back from the 1-0. Obviously, we are disappointed about the result but we think that we can still work at the same level, and with the same concentration that we had in this game. We played against a good team, and now we [can take the] revenge on the next game by hopefully keeping many of things we did in this game."

On the performance being better than in the past two games

"Yeah, of course! We had a good mentality, and hard work from the team and from all the guys and we feel like we deserved to take something better from this game, for our fans so we are just disappointed about that. The mentality was there, the hard work was there and if we keep the same [working at the same pace] we can probably come back sooner."

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