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MLS FC Dallas

FCD Defeats J. Malucelli 2-1 to Open Brazil Preseason Phase

March 3, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


Curitiba, Brazil (Monday, March 3, 2008) - FC Dallas began its 2008 Brazilian-phase of preseason games with a 2-1 win over Brasileiro Série C side J. Malucelli on Monday afternoon in a game played at the Atletico Paranaense Training Center. Kenny Cooper and Bobby Rhine scored first half goals for FCD, with Malucelli temporarily tying the game in the 31st minute.

"It was a good workout, and good to start off the trip with a good win as well," said FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow following the game. "It could have been a little more convincing; we had a lot of good opportunities to get some goals today, the finishing will get better as the preseason goes along."

Dallas used a 3-4-3 formation; with Dario Sala starting in goal, Duilio Davino anchoring the defense that had Drew Moor and Adrian Serioux on the right and left respectively. Marcelo Saragosa and Pablo Ricchetti covered the middle of the field, with Bobby Rhine on the right and David Wagenfuhr on the left. Abe Thompson led the trio up front, with Kenny Cooper and Ricardinho playing on the outsides.

"We're starting to build up now, trying to get the guys through 90 minutes," added Morrow. "One or two guys are not quite there yet, but we got six guys through 90 today which was important."

Ricardinho had the first true chance of the contest at the 15 minute mark. Kenny Cooper sprang the Brazilian with a through ball on the left side, creating a one-on-one with the keeper. However, the Malucelli netminder denied Ricardinho with a kick save after committing to the opposite side.

A minute later, Cooper was on the receiving end of a similar pass. Bobby Rhine picked up a loose ball near the right side of midfield and quickly found Pablo Ricchetti with a forward pass. Ricchetti moved forward, waiting for Cooper to continue his run from the left before feeding him a weighted through pass just beyond the last defender. Cooper ran in unmarked and calmly lifted a shot above the keeper's right shoulder for the 1-0 lead.

Malucelli managed one chance from the run of play in the first half, when a forward ran at Dario Sala from the left side only to miss wide after Sala came out far to cut off the angle. Malucelli converted their only other challenge, when forward Oliveira headed home a corner kick in the 31st minute to even the score.

Dallas continued creating chances, with Ricardinho getting behind the defense twice more, seeing one shot saved and the other sail wide. The former CAP player made a minor adjustment on his next opportunity, creating the second FCD goal.

A minute before the break, Rhine again took a misplayed ball and played it forward to Abe Thompson just outside the penalty box. Thompson sent a low pass between two defenders, sending Ricardinho in at goal from the left side. From a tight angle and with a defender closing in at the near post, Ricardinho sent a pass across the goalmouth, where Rhine had continued his run to easily push the ball into the back of the net.

The second half evened out; with both teams continuously stopping each other between the penalty areas before threatening chances could develop.

A year ago, FC Dallas also opened its Brazilian-phase of preseason games with a 2-1 win over J. Malucelli. In that game, Rhine scored first when he re-directed a free kick, and Cooper scored late in the game off a penalty kick.

FC Dallas will next face Atletico Paranaense's Under-20 team on Tuesday, March 4 at the CAP Training Center.

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