MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Remains on Top of the West with 3-1 Win vs. Chicago

Published on July 14, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, TEXAS - Carlos Gruezo, Kellyn Acosta and Reto Ziegler scored to give FC Dallas a 3-1 win vs. the Chicago Fire tonight at Toyota Stadium.

Michael Barrios nearly gave FCD a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute, when center back Matt Hedges worked his way up the pitch and found Reggie Cannon down the right side with a through ball. Cannon cut back and got the ball to Barrios, who had time to pick up his head and shoot towards the far post. Unfortunately for FC Dallas, Barrios caught the ball with the outside of his foot and the shot sailed wide of the goal.

FC Dallas Homegrown defender Reggie Cannon set up the first goal of the match in the 27th minute. Cannon received the ball on the right side, ran at Chicago defender Brandon Vincent, and cut back hard at the edge of the box. The right back then curled a low cross into the area for midfielder Carlos Gruezo, who redirected the shot with his first touch, just inside the far post behind Fire goalkeeper Richard Sanchez.

Barrios had another near miss to begin the second half. Santiago Mosquera worked his way down the left flank in the 49th minute and sent a cross to the penalty spot. A Fire defender deflected the pass out to the right flank, where Barrios took control of the ball, ran to the end line and fired a shot, high towards the far post. A former FC Dallas Academy goalkeeper, Chicago's Sanchez did well to make the save, high to his right side.

Barrios had a third chance in the 57th minute. The play was also set up by Mosquera, who worked his way to the end line and fired a low pass across the six-yard box. The ball found its way to Barrios at the back post. The Colombian midfielder fired a shot on goal but the attempt was blocked off the line by a Chicago defender, who had the clearance attempt smack off the post before finding its way out of the area.

FC Dallas gained a man advantage when Chicago defender Drew Conner was shown his second yellow card of the match for a tackle on FCD's Ryan Hollingshead in the 70th minute.

Four minutes later, Kellyn Acosta accepted a pass at the top of the box from fellow Homegrown midfielder Victor Ulloa and ripped a low shot to the far post that skipped over the hands of Sanchez to make it, 2-0.

Maxi Urruti drew a penalty kick for FC Dallas in the 81st minute after getting to the end line and absorbing a slide tackle from Fire defender Jonathan Campbell. Reto Ziegler opted to take the kick for FCD, beating Sanchez high to his left side to make it 3-0.

The Fire got a late goal to make it a 3-1 final. A ball played into the area was cleared to the top of the box but Fire substitute Brandt Bronico stepped in front at the last second and teed up a left-footed shot that caught the inside of the far post and settled into the back of the net.

Lineups:

FC Dallas - Jesse Gonzalez, Ryan Hollingshead, Reto Ziegler, Matt Hedges, Reggie Cannon, Victor Ulloa, Carlos Gruezo (Kellyn Acosta 69), Santiago Mosquera, Michael Barrios (Jesus Ferreira 87), Maxi Urruti, Roland Lamah (Paxton Pomykal 82).

Substitutes not used - Jimmy Maurer, Jacori Hayes, Maynor Figueroa, Tesho Akindele.

Chicago Fire - Richard Sanchez, Brandon Vincent, Drew Conner, Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Daniel Johnson (Aleksandar Katai 58), Tony Tchani, Mohammed Adams, Elliott Collier, Jon Bakero (Brandt Bronico 46), Alan Gordon (Diego Campos 76).

Substitutes not used - Christian Dean, Jorge Corrales, Nemanja Nikolic, Stefan Cleveland.

Scoring Summary:

DAL: Carlos Gruezo (Reggie Cannon) 27

DAL: Kellyn Acosta (Victor Ulloa) 74

DAL: Reto Ziegler (PK) 81

CHI: Brandt Bronico 86

Misconduct Summary:

CHI: Drew Conner (caution) 39

DAL: Reggie Cannon (caution) 63

CHI: Drew Conner (caution) 70

CHI: Drew Conner (ejection) 70

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 98 degrees

Attendance: 16,000

Referee: Marcos Deoliveira

Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Danny Thornberry

4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal

VAR: Ismail Elfath

FC Dallas Head Coach Oscar Pareja

General thoughts on the match...

It was an overall good game for us. We created a lot of chances today and that was the objective - to have volume. It seems in the last two games that has been something that we need to get better at.

I'm very happy with [Carlos Gruezo] who scored today. That was good. I thought we had control of the game, when they brought [Aleksandar] Katai and [Brandt] Bronico in the second half, I thought they had more sequences in the middle and sometimes they looked dangerous there but we had a good game so we gave the opportunity to some players to score three goals. It was great for the team to get three points.

On the morale of the team...

We have the objective to get three points every time we play. When you win, everything gets better, the players gain confidence and the team is going in a good direction. Only losing three games [this season] has given us a lot of optimism. But at the same time, we know who we are and what we need to get better at. We are very conscious of our team and that's probably the best thing that we have. The mentality is there, the desire is there, there is unity with the players- there are many positives today, for sure.

On the play of the outside backs...

Ryan [Hollingshead] did a great job today, and Reggie [Cannon]. They provided a lot of volume on the sides, especially with the game plan of putting three players in there who can attack them. Mikey and Reggie on the right, and Santiago or [Roland] Lamah and Ryan... They give us the opportunity to attack on the flanks. It was key in the first half especially, since we know that in the middle, we are more vertical than crafty or creative.

On the club getting 300 wins...

Today was a special day not just because of 300 wins, but because of the Brimstone cup- which has been popular here with the rivalry which is important for the fans. Beating Chicago is great for us and for the three points. We also had a special guest in our locker room today. Jake Rhine, Bobby Rhine's son, visited today and brought a lot of good memories. It was a great night to see him here with us.

FC Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta

On bringing the Brimstone Cup home...

Oscar stresses that we play to win. Whatever we can compete for and win, that's what we're here to do, so it feels good to bring the Brimstone Cup home.

On his goal...

Yea, that is something I have been working on in training. I had some space. I wanted to capitalize on it. It was a good test for us tonight, a good bounce-back for the team. It was a great win for us.

How do you feel?

I feel all right. It has been a difficult season but I am happy to get on the scoresheet.

On heading back out on the road for the next two matches...

Road games are difficult but we'll regroup. We got a huge win tonight. We were able to recover from the game in Salt Lake, focus on training this week, and we turned it around.

Thoughts on scoring his first MLS of the season...

Definitely excited to be on the scoresheet. It was a big win. The 300th win for the club, it's huge. It's a great bounce back for us from last week. Everyone is happy with the results. Now we celebrate the win and then turn our focus to Houston.

FC Dallas defender Reto Ziegler

Thoughts on the franchise's 300th win...

It's a big achievement, but what counts is what we do this season. Of course, we know FC Dallas had success in the past and we want to continue the history, but what counts is at the end of the season, where we are.

Thoughts on scoring the penalty kick...

It's something that I train on a lot. I had a lot of success back in Switzerland... I'm really proud that I could score today and help the team get the three points.

FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges

On getting 300 wins as a franchise...

It is a big milestone for the club. We're only the second to do it. It just shows how much sustained success this club has had over the years. We're always doing well and getting a lot of wins.

On the comprehensive victory...

Despite that one lapse, I think it was one of our best performances all year. We moved the ball. We created chances. Defensively, we were very good. It is something to build on.

FC Dallas defender Reggie Cannon

On his first MLS assist...

It's a great feeling. I had a little more confidence this game and that's what it is all about. I have been developing on and off the field and throughout these games I feel like I have been gaining confidence. I decided that I would take that guy on and then crossed the ball with my left, which is unnatural for me. I usually don't do that but I started to take more risks this game. I feel like I am really improving.

On bouncing back...

It puts us back on the right track but we have three losses total on the season. I think we're doing phenomenal. The team was down after that last loss but that was a long week for us. We had three games in seven days. We're doing well and the morale is really up right now.

On working well with Michael Barrios on the right side...

Mikey and I have been playing together for a while. We're gaining chemistry. I am starting to understand his characteristics. We're just getting chemistry in there and starting to play a lot better.

On the assist...

This game I just decided to take more risks. I want to take my game to the next level. The only way to do that is to take risks and you'll learn from the mistakes. I usually don't take on people one-on-one. It's a lack of confidence but I have been gaining, Oscar has been pushing me. I could hear him 'as tired as you are, keeping going.' I could hear him on those plays and that's where the assist came from.

Chicago Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic

On tonight's game...

A game to forget. We move forward. Our guys gave their best. That's it. No further thoughts on the game. It's always difficult when you lose and we always try to win the games no matter the squad rotations. Our guys always go out and try to win and today wasn't the day. We have to recover and prepare for the next game on Wednesday.

Chicago Fire midfielder Brandt Bronico

On tonight's game...

I thought we fought hard, especially in the second half. Made some silly challenges at times and we got punished for it, but it's important to bounce back for Wednesday's Open Cup game and stay positive, stay as a group and just focus on winning.

On scoring his first MLS goal...

On the first chance, I thought it was in, but it went wide and I thought I blew my chance. On the second chance, the ball dropped at my feet, I turned, hit it and it went in. It all happened so fast. I was happy that I scored, but unfortunately we lost the game so that killed the vibe a little bit. I'm happy with the goal nonetheless.

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