MLS FC Dallas

First-Place FC Dallas Extends Home Unbeaten Streak to 18 Matches

Published on August 13, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas (13-6-6, 45 points) gutted out a 2-2 draw against Sporting Kansas City at home Saturday night, extending its unbeaten streak at Toyota Stadium to a franchise-best 18 games. The first goal of the match came in the 66th minute, when Atiba Harris knocked a cross into the box. The well-weighted pass floated to Tesho Akindele, who nodded home his sixth goal of the season with the slightest of touches. For Harris, the assist was the outside back's second assist in as many matches. Sporting came right back, two-minutes later when substitute Brad Davis slipped a short pass inside to Dom Dwyer. The striker roofed the shot from the near post to bring the match level in the 68th minute.

Minutes later, Kansas City took a 2-1 lead in the 73rd minute. A ball played over the top of the FCD defense was half-cleared by Walker Zimmerman, but the loose ball looped up, into the path of Dwyer, who struck it with his first touch, past Chris Seitz and into the far corner of the net. FC Dallas returned the favor, scoring three minutes later to level the match, 2-2. The play began with a cross from Maynor Figueroa, played in from the left flank. The cross caught the crossbar and rebounded back into the path of Maxi Urruti, who leaned back and netted his second bicycle-kick goal of the season to pull his team onto level terms. The barrage of late goals followed an active first half that saw both sides with opportunities. FC Dallas forced a save out of Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Alec Kann in the 18th minute of the match. MLS all-star Mauro Diaz unlocked the defense with a through-ball played towards the corner for winger Michael Barrios. The Colombian set the table for Urruti, but Kann came up with a huge save, coming off his line to take the ball off the foot of the Argentine forward and keep the match level, 0-0.

On the opposite end of the pitch, Seitz came up with a huge save just six minutes later. On a Sporting corner kick, Dwyer powered through his marker and headed a well-taken shot on goal. Seitz reacted instantly and was able to get down to his left side and make a goal line stop.

The hero in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime win in LA against the Galaxy in the U.S Open Cup Semifinal, Victor Ulloa won the ball back in a very dangerous area and cracked a full volley from close range in the 25th minute. Fortunately for Kansas City, Kann was once again in perfect position to make a point-blank save and keep the match scoreless.

Making his MLS debut, Getterson won a free kick for FCD to start the second half. Diaz curled a pass to the near post on the ensuing set piece and Zimmerman redirected a header, once again, directly at Kann. The goalkeeper punched the shot away for his third save on the evening but Harris was first to the rebound. The St. Kitts and Nevis native slipped on the play, but managed to smack a shot off the outside of the post from the ground, before the ball was cleared away from danger.

Kellyn Acosta set up Barrios with a 50-yard through ball in the 62nd minute. The long pass led Barrios perfectly and the winger sent a cross to the opposite post for Urruti. Just out of his reach, Urruti made a flailing attempt but was unable to keep his attempt under the bar. First-place FC Dallas starts a tough road stretch next week, traveling to Real Salt Lake before detouring to Nicaragua for a mid-week CCL match the following week and returning to Texas and MLS play in Houston on Aug. 27.

Scoring Summary: DAL: Tesho (Atiba Harris, Carlos Gruezo) 66 SKC: Dom Dwyer (Brad Davis) 68 SKC: Dom Dwyer 73 DAL: Maxi Urruti 76

FC Dallas - Chris Seitz, Maynor Figueroa, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, Atiba Harris, Victor Ulloa (Kellyn Acosta 56), Carlos Gruezo (Ryan Hollingshead 75), Getterson (Tesho 61), Mauro Diaz, Michael Barrios, Maxi Urruti. Substitutes Not Used: Ryan Herman, Mauro Rosales, Aubrey David, Norberto Paparatto.

Sporting Kansas City - Alec Kann, Saad Abdul-Salaam, Ike Opara (Kevin Ellis 35), Lawernce Olum, Jimmy Medranda, Nuno Andre Coelho (Paulo Nagamura 85), Emmanuel Appiah, Benny Feilhaber, Jacob Peterson (Brad Davis), Graham Zusi, Dom Dwyer.

Substitutes Not Used: Jon Kempin, Kevin Ellis, Seth Sinovic, Connor Hallisey, Diego Rubio.

Misconduct Summary: DAL: Matt Hedges (caution) 22 DAL: Atiba Harris (caution) 83 SKC: Saad Abdul-Salaam (caution) 86 SKC: Jimmy Medranda (caution) 88

Referee: Armando Villarreal. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Matthew Nelson; 4th: Mark Kadlecik Weather: Partly Cloudy, 91 Attendance:

FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja

Overall thoughts on the game...

Another good one. I want to highlight the work these guys put in tonight after such a busy week and such a long game in Los Angeles. The team kept pushing the game, playing with heart. For me, that means much more than anything. We keep looking for points and tonight was not what we wanted. We only got one point at home, but we just keep on rolling. Tonight was a good demonstration of good soccer and intensity against a good team, a conference rival. In the first half we found a lot of common things between the two teams: good passing sequences, good players tried to make key plays and both being in front of the goal. We had a few chances that could have been a change in the game.

In the second half we came on strong, but unfortunately we lost concentration in the next 10 minutes after we scored the first goal. I'm going to say it tonight; I'm not going to blame these guys. It has been an exhausting week, but I want to keep highlighting the way they came back to the game because they were *this* close to winning it. For me, it's another sweet night with just one point.

On Maxi Urruit...

Maxi's role, obviously, is to score goals and Maxi is doing that. Maxi brings much more than that - it's the hard work that he brings into the field that he transmits to the other players. Plus - he scores goals. For me it was a very complete performance by a guy who is gelling with the team every time more and more. He's gaining the confidence to be that guy.

On Keeping the Same Lineup after game against LA Galaxy...

Because we can do it. We have the fitness, the energy, and we have the spirit to be part of this game. We have another week to prepare the next one, which is going to be three games away, but I wanted to give them rhythm and keep playing with the players that have been taking care of the results. Today was important and we wanted to keep the rhythm of the team.

On Success at Home

I don't pay attention much to the statistics, but when I look at the job they have been doing at home, and seeing how they respond to our fans, and the respect that these guys have for the franchise and for the club to want it to be our home, not as a cliché, but a reality, is amazing. We are very proud to have our city, our community and the support that we get from our fans." FC Dallas midfielder Tesho Akindele On the back-and-forth nature of the match... When we scored the first goal, we got scored on right away. I said to [Saad] Abdul-Salaam, 'it sucks for that to happen.' Then, we did the same thing to them. It was pretty crazy. Honestly though, we had so many chances. We have to be disappointed that we didn't win at the end of the day.

On playing on short rest following Wednesday's big win.... For the guys who have been starting the games, hats off to them. They've been doing a tremendous job at recovering well and taking care of themselves. Off the bench, I am just trying to make a difference and provide some relief for those guys. On not losing a match at home in 12 months at Toyota Stadium... Fortress Frisco, like they've been saying. Every team comes here, and they're afraid. They're afraid to be here. You can see how they sit back a little bit more. We're going to continue winning here. We just have a good mindset when we're at home. FC Dallas forward Maxi Urruti Talk about seeing four goals in 11 minutes, how is that kind of game as a player? It was a hard game. We got a little disorganized, and they formed two great counter attacks. Luckily we were able to tie, but tonight we are all going home knowing we could have won and didn't. But we secured a point tonight. FC Dallas midfielder Carlos Gruezo What is there in this team that almost obligates you all to recover and keep playing well? What's helped is that this is truly a team. Many of us are great friends. We have a great coaching staff who have our backs. That's extremely important. It's why we can come back from [being a goal down]. Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes On tonight's game... Good response by us to get the equalizer, and to get the second goal thereafter was obviously even better. I thought we gave up a soft goal on the second one. I would need to see it again, but from what I saw, the keeper should have just pushed the ball out, that's the disappointing part of it. I thought both teams had chances. They had a couple more in the first half than we did, but in the second half, both teams were going back and forth and to be in front like we were and give up that goal is a little disappointing, but it's good to get a point. On taking a point away from this game... They're a good team. I know Oscar very well, and I congratulated him on making it to the finals of the US Open Cup. Obviously, they're in form, but at the same time I think a few things in this league go your way. It's amazing how fast things can turn in your favor, so the good thing is that we are still plugging away and fighting game after game. You can see it in the way our players play, and that's the positive thing on my side. Sporting KC midfielder Benny Feilhaber On tonight's game... I think our team came out with a really good mentality. Obviously, Dallas (is an) extremely tough team to play here with the heat, and they just know how to play at home. I know they have a long unbeaten streak here at home. We did well. We could have come out with three points, a bit unlucky, I think, on the second goal. We're happy coming out of here with one point and I think it was a good performance all around from our team. Sporting KC defender Saad Abdul-Salaam On tonight's game... It was a hard-fought point on the road... more of a two-sided game. At times, they got the better of us in the first half. We came out in the second half and started to control the midfield a little more and were able to get forward and get some chances. On the changes made at halftime... We changed some tactics a little bit. Come out and get forward, find the seams of the midfield a little more.

Next FC Dallas home game, presented by Elephant Auto Insurance, is Saturday, August 13th at 8:00 PM vs Sporting Kansas City at Toyota Stadium. Purchase your tickets at www.fcdallas.com.

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