MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Stays Top of the Table with 3-1 Win over Chicago; Academy Teams Win Two National Titles

Published on July 17, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas (Saturday, July 16) - FC Dallas' (12-6-4, 40 points) Argentine trio Mauro Diaz, Maxi Urruti and Mauro Rosales each scored to lead the team to a 3-1 win tonight at Toyota Stadium, solidifying the Dallas side's spot on top of Major League Soccer.

The win was one part of a special night for the franchise overall as the club's U-16 team made history earlier in the night by winning its second consecutive U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship. The FC Dallas U-18 Academy squad capped the night with its own USSDA National Championship, finishing a completely dominant day by the club.

Jesse Gonzalez, making his first MLS start since May 7, was called upon to make a save in the seventh minute when Chicago's Kennedy Igboananike tracked down a long pass played over the top of Dallas' defense. The Nigerian forward ran at Gonzalez before attempting to beat him low to the near post, but the 21-year-old kicked his left foot out at the last second to deny Igboananike of an early goal.

Fabian Castillo made his mark on the match in the 23rd minute, when he beat Chicago's Rodrigo Ramos and Michael Stephens just inside the area, near the end line. After winning the duel, Castillo drove a cross into the area with his right foot after swinging his right leg behind his left. Forward Urruti did the easy part, stepping inside his man to head home his fifth goal of the season, giving FCD a 1-0 lead.

Diaz netted his third goal of the season to give Dallas a 2-0 lead in the 41st minute. Plano native Kellyn Acosta assisted on the play, sliding a 10-foot pass to Diaz with the outside of his right foot in the conventional manner. Diaz did the rest, touching the ball to his right before firing a rocket, over the outstretched arms of Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson. The perfectly placed strike caught the inside of the post to Lampson's right side before settling into the back of the net.

Michael Barrios nearly made it 3-0 in the 56th minute when a pass trickled through to the back post. Near the end line, Barrios was unable to convert the chance from a tough angle as the shot smacked off the outside of the near post.

Chicago substitute Arturo Alvarez ruined the shutout for Gonzalez with a left-footed free kick goal in the 90th minute. The former FC Dallas midfielder curled a shot over the wall and just inside the post to Gonzalez's right side.

Dallas' substitute, Rosales put the game away seconds after, when Castillo sped by his defender on the left flank, took the ball to the end line and fed the ball across the face of goal. Rosales finished with his first touch to the back post to make it a 3-1 final and extend Dallas' franchise-record home unbeaten streak to 16 games.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 17, 2016


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