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FC Dallas Extends Undefeated Home Record to Nine Matches in 3-1 Win over FC Cincinnati

August 31, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


Frisco, TX - FC Dallas eliminated FC Cincinnati from the 2019 playoff race in 3-1 win with goals from Ryan Hollingshead, Michael Barrios, and Zdenek Ondrasek Saturday night at Toyota Stadium.

Game Summary

First Half:

10'- Emmanuel Ledesma cut inside and his curling effort struck the outside of the post and bounced wide.

13'- Jesús Ferreira collected the ball on the edge of the box, and he tapped it to Zdenek "The Cobra" Ondrasek, whose lay off sat up perfectly for Ryan Hollingshead to lash his shot into the far corner of the net.

24'- Hollingshead beat his man and slid in Ondrasek but he scuffed his shot and it was an easy save for Przemys?aw Tyto?.

28'- Ferreira's pass down the channel was collected by Michael Barrios, who cut inside and saw his curling shot bound for the far corner pushed wide by Tyto?.

41'- A free kick was lofted into the FC Dallas area, and Jesse Gonzalez was equal to Roland Lamah's powerful header.

Second Half:

49'- A careless pass from Cincinnati fell to Ferreira, who unlocked the defense with a through ball to Barrios who blasted his shot past Tyton to give FC Dallas a 2-0 lead

52'- Barrios whipped a cross in and Tyto? saved the first header from Ondrasek, but "The Cobra" reacted quickest, collected his own rebound, and tapped it into the empty net.

63'- Reggie Cannon bundled over Lamah in the area, and the ensuing penalty was buried by Ledesma, making the score 3-1 in favor of Dallas.

74'- After a VAR review, Kekuta Manneh was sent off for an off-the-ball incident.

90' + 1' - FC Dallas worked the ball down the wing, and the ball eventually fell to Paxton Pomkyal whose shot flashed wide of the post.

Lineups:

FC Dallas- Jesse González; Reggie Cannon (Bressan - 90'), Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Ryan Hollingshead; Brandon Servania, Bryan Acosta, Jesús Ferreira (Paxton Pomykal - 67'); Michael Barrios, Zdenek Ondrasek (Ricardo Pepi - 87'), Dominique Badji.

Substitutes not used - Jimmy Maurer, Bryan Reynolds, Edwin Cerrillo, Cristian Colmán.

FC Cincinnati - Przemys?aw Tyto?; Justin Hoyte, Maikel van der Werff, Kendall Waston, Greg Garza (Andrew Gutman - 60'); Leonardo Bertone, Victor Ulloa (Fatai Alashe - 64'), Allan Cruz; Roland Lamah (Rashawn Dally - 77'), Emmanuel Ledesma, Kekuta Manneh.

Substitutes not used - Jimmy Hague, Nick Haggluand, Tommy McCabe, Derrick Etienne.

Scoring Summary:

FCD: Ryan Hollingshead (Zdenek Ondrasek) - 12'

FCD: Michael Barrios (Jesús Ferreira) - 49'

FCD: Zdenek Ondrasek - 52'

CIN: Emmanuel Ledesma (PK) - 64'

Misconduct Summary:

FCD: MattHedges (caution) - 37'

FCD:Dominique Badji (caution) - 60'

FCD: Reggie Cannon (caution) - 62'

CIN: Andrew Gutman (caution) - 65'

CIN: Emmanuel Ledesma (caution) - 73'

CIN: Kekuta Manneh (ejection) - 75'

FCD: Bryan Acosta (caution) - 85'

Weather: Sunny, 84

Attendance: 15,811

Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

Assistant Referees: Frank Anderson, Logan Brown

4th Official: Kevin Broadley

VAR: Kevin Terry

FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez

On his overall thoughts on the game...

Good feelings about this because Cincinnati has had a rough season. They are a new franchise, they have added a lot of new franchises to the league and those are the guys that are fighting for positions. Once upon a time, we were in that position and you have to respect that by being the best you can be, and by coming out and being our best. We have to always approach it that way, being the best, we have to beat the best. And it's good to see some of our former teammates, Victor [Ulloa] and Roland [Lamah], they were going to come with purpose on the field and we needed to be ready for that motivation. I thought we started strong, we were composed, we scored a very strong first goal, we flattened out a bit at the end of the first half, and we let them back into the game. It could have cost us if they tied, but they didn't. We talked at halftime about how we needed to push in the second half to score the next goal. I felt like we did that the right away. The PK was a transition moment and it was a fair call, but we managed our emotions and we fought for each other on the field. We showed some emotion but at the same time it was all with the right energy to get each other back. They got a red card that allowed us to control more of the ball at the end and our subs came in and gave us energy. We have to be steady, we can't get too high or too low, we have to keep our eye on the prize, and now we have two weeks to prepare to go to Chicago and do something special there with another team fighting for the playoffs. We are going to miss our brothers on their national team call ups, but we want them to be the best they can be for the national team, whatever the age, we have U-17, U-20, U-23, we want them to be the best for the national team, so they can be the best for us.

On Ryan Hollingshead attacking from left back...

Ryan is right footed playing left back, so his natural tendency is to cut in, although he has a pretty good left foot, and he had a good assist last week with his left foot. We encourage him to be unpredictable and dynamic in the attack, coming inside and going outside, and today we had good combination on the inside and he had that beautiful right foot curling shot that beat the keeper. So yes, we encourage that and he rewarded himself by going forward. You look at a profile or an ideal profile and you say a right footed left back is not an ideal profile, but the way he is leading, and learning, performing, and helping his teammates, all of those things for me fulfill the right profile.

On Zdenek "The Cobra" Ondrasek's hot streak...

Cobra has been supporting this team since preseason. He had a rough beginning of the season and he was not, for whatever reason, on the field or on gameday roster and that's a process, but he never gave up. He has made some great adjustments in his development, in his press, in his movement. We have always seen his talent in the box, but he has developed outside the box. He has helped our build play, he is pressing, he can make good runs and he is just working, and it has earned him these opportunities. Whatever he is getting, he is earning and he is taking advantage with his play and even if he didn't score tonight he did a lot of positive things. It's just about taking steps and it is the beauty of life and football. You have to be ready and you don't give up and he is a great example for our club and all our players.

On Reggie Cannon's defensive work and busy night...

He did have a tough task. With their wingers, [Emmanuel] Ledesma, [Kekuta] Manneh, I know [Darren] Mattocks didn't play, we were kind of surprised by that, Mattocks is a speed player but Manneh has a lot of pace, and he can run at you. [Roland] Lamah, Reggie trained with his all last year and faced him all last year, so it was a really good challenge for Reggie and he had a busy night. At the same time, he got forward and had some good service, and he worked hard to let Michael [Barrios] stretch the field and be creative. Reggie and [Michael Barrios] have developed a good relationship and we encourage that not just defensively sound but to make sure we get forward and provide service on two of the three goals.

On the style of play FC Dallas is adapting to...

So whether it is a build from our own goal, or a press, or a press from the midblock, we want to play with tempo. We want to move the ball and we want to have a purpose. We want to have players between lines and find gaps and we need to find them. We can be dangerous with wide play or switches and players reading the spaces and reading the lines. We worked a lot on some fundamental things and patterns, and to do those things and the team has been open and been trying, and they were able to do some positive things in that, in those concepts.

On Jesus Ferreira's transition to the midfield...

Jesus is very calm on the ball, very aware. He is a good 360 player. When he receives the ball, he can kill it and then rotate his body and almost take a peripheral of the field. He can connect short or connect long. He has improved on his last pass and he is really developing his last pass. We are encouraging that he takes that risk, and look forward, and find that sweet spot for him to make those passes. We don't want to force it and lose it, but he is very good connecting in short passes and combos, and now we want him to improve his final pass, and he was able to do that in a beautiful ball tonight that opened the scoring in the second half.

FC Dallas midfielder Michael Barrios

On FC Dallas' attack after scoring 16 goals in the past three games...

We worked on defining [the attack] all week because that's what will give us three points. We know if we improve our attack it will help us in the long run and thankfully, we have seen that in the past few games. It fills our forwards with confidence, the technical staff and the team as well to know that we can score any amount of goals in any game. The most important thing is to remain calm and enjoy this win and the three points and to continue working.

On his relationship with Cobra and how it helped that third goal...

We know that verbally it is a bit difficult because we speak different languages, but day-by-day we get to know each other more. We've been working with each other for some time now and we perfect our movements each training. And so during a match, that is what is important, that we are finding each other. Not only with him but the entire team, and that's what helps us.

On his four goals this season...

Yes thank God this is the second consecutive game that I have scored. It's my fourth goal of the season. Like you said, even though I assist my teammates, I also score goals, so it fills me with confidence. It fills me with happiness. We know that in the beginning I was not scoring, so the most important thing is to keep working and marking the scoreboard.

FC Dallas forward Zdenek "The Cobra" Ondrasek..

On what the last few games have been like with goals in the last three games...

It has been beautiful, I played the most minutes since I came here so I'm happy. I know that I would be even better if I played more in the past months, but I didn't so that's the past. I have to prepare myself now. I have to play. I am happy the guys pass me the (and) ball I score. Today I'm a little bit disappointed because it's too many challenges for one goal. Of course, I am happy, three points, one goal at least. We take the three points because they're very important for us. Now it's the break, so we work hard and get ready for Chicago.

FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez

Overall thoughts on the match...

The team did a great job out there. I give a lot of credit to the team. You know, they've been working hard this week and thankfully we got the three points today.

On the recent offensive outburst of 16 goals in the last five games...

It's just the training sessions throughout the week. It shows during the game. The back four have done a great job as well. Gotta give credit to the offense but always look at and give credit to the people back there.

On Ryan Hollingshead's importance to the team and him being the highest scoring defender in MLS...

It's been great. All years he's been in Dallas, he's done a great job. He's a great fullback. He goes up and down the field he works his butt off. I think deserves all those goals he has.

FC Cincinnati head coach Ron Jans

General thoughts on the match...

The game was never the same throughout 90 minutes. The first chances were ours. We hit the post trough Ledesma, we pressed the goalkeeper and we had a good opportunity to make it 1-0. But the first shot on target from Dallas was a goal and after that we had problems and they could have scored a second. I think the last 10 minutes before half time we were in the game. Normally it's the phase in the game where we concede a lot of goals but today it was different. We tried to stay in the game in the second half. Within five minutes of the second half it was awful. It's always not to blame personal players but, it's also individual mistakes we all do. We lose the ball in transition, and it's 2-0 and then 3-0. We didn't give up, and that's what I liked. We scored and I thought maybe right before the red card, that it was an opportunity for us to keep going. We didn't make the right choice and then the red card killed the game for us. We stick together and we will try again and again till the season is over. Now we focus on next week.

On the team having some positive takes from the match...

In the last 10-15 minutes of the first half, in the buildup we found the extra men. But when you find him you must make the right choice to score goals. We created chances in the first half, but maybe not in the start of the second half. It's not about creating chances, it's about finishing them. We have conceded a lot of goals in the season, and it can not only be bad luck, but also, it's the attackers who are better in some situations. When we lose the ball, we are trailing a lot in defense. The goal from Barrios was an example where we lose the ball out of position and with one pass and they are one on one against the goalkeeper. The team and I realized that I wasn't coming to make us champions of the MLS this season. We are doing a good job so far on the short term. We and I will never give up.

On the team's modification to the lineup...

I was very happy with Greg [Garza] coming back to the game. We knew he couldn't play for 90 minutes but it's a good restart for him. Maybe it was since May when he had his last game. Alashe [Fatai] came in and had his first minutes. We want to give more minutes to young promising players, [Rashawn] Dally came in and I think [Tommy] McCabe will get some minutes as well in the next games soon. I think some did well than other players. Like [Justin] Hoyte that has played before, so that's not a big issue.

FC Cincinnati midfielder Victor Ulloa

On his return back home...

It felt good to be back in Dallas after being here for so long and spending many good times here. I have great memories and I know most of the guys on the other side. It was good to matchup against them. We are disappointed about the result, but happy to come back home.

On the team conceding two early goals in the second half...

I think the first early goal in the second half killed us. It killed our concentration and motivation. It's though coming from behind. We put ourselves in that situation and we have to do better than that.

On any positives from tonight's match...

It's difficult as a player to not think about the result. But we came down here thinking we could score some chances and get points. We work day-to-day and try to get the best out of the games. We always want to get the results and we always want to play well individually. Now coming into these last 6 games we are going to try and end on a high note. We will rest during the week and prepare for Toronto.

FC Cincinnati defender Greg Garza

On returning back to the pitch after being out injured...

It's always a good feeling you know, also frustrating because of the result. I think individually wise, you are just getting back on the field and being part of the group again is something very important to do. Hopefully we can push till the end of the season and get some wins for the fans of Cincinnati.

Also, on being close to home...

I was playing in front of family and in front of friends. It's something I take pride in growing up the first 12 years of my life here and having that relationship. Seeing my grandmother who is about to be 96 years old, seeing her able to watch me play is very special.

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