Major League Soccer’s biggest secret is about to be revealed: Fabian Castillo is pretty good. On a night where he was named to his first MLS All-Star game, the 23 year old Colombian with possibly his best match as a member of F.C. Dallas. His late goal helped push Dallas past D.C. United by the score of 2-1.
F.C. Dallas defender Kellyn Acosta opened up the match in the in the 72nd minute with his tap on off of a David Teixeira pass. United would respond back thanks to an own goal off of F.C. Dallas defender Matt Hedges just four minutes later. The win was F.C. Dallas’ fourth consecutive win during league play and have now extended their unbeaten run against United at home to six matches (4-2-0, 14 points).
FC Dallas ends up short against DC United in ATX Pro Challenge.
Photo Credit: FC Dallas
Although the match was played in the evening in Dallas, temperatures stayed in the 90’s for the majority of the match. F.C. Dallas coach Oscar Pareja used this to his team’s advantage by resting forward Tesho Akindele and playing a very fast and aggressive style. Dallas would nearly score in the 25th minute when midfielder Mauro Diaz would hit a shot that was on target but would ultimately be saved by United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra.
Dallas would continue to hit at United’s defense all throughout the first half. In the 40th minute, Castillo would make a strong run into the box with a chance at goal. However, United right-back Chris Korb would force Castillo to go wide and when Castillo tried to go inside midfielder Perry Kitchen would cut him off. Dallas would have another opportunity just two minutes later when Acosta would lay in a cross for Castillo whose shot was on target but saved by Dykstra.
Things would open up for Dallas in the second half with United having to take out Korb for an unknown reason. Without Korb United coach Ben Olsen would place midfielder Nick De Leon as a right-back, a position that he rarely plays. Dallas would exploit this weakness just minutes into the second half when Castillo would make a pass into Teixeira whose shot would go wide.
Playing in the Texas and without Fabian Espindola (who is out on red card suspension) limited United’s attacking options. Their best opportunity would come in the 60th minute when forward Chris Rolfe would make diagonal run against the Dallas defense and skip a low shot past FC Dallas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy. Ultimately though his would go just wide of the far post.
Having avoided the 1-0 deficit, Dallas would continue on the attack. Diaz would have another opportunity in the 63rd minute at the top of the penalty box, while midfielder Ryan Hollingshead would bang a shot off of the cross-bar three minutes later. United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra was forced to make several spectacular and at times rescue his defense in the second half.
But Dallas were not to be denied and it would be Acosta’s goal in the 73rd minute that would put them ahead. It was his first goal of the 2015 season. United would strike back just a few minutes later thanks to scalding cross by United left-back Taylor Kemp that Hedges could do little keep out of the net. But in the end it was Castillo whose consistent probing of the United defense would inevitably pay off in the form of his seventh goal of the 2015 campaign.
With the victory, F.C. Dallas (10-5-5, 35 points) moved to the top of the Western Conference standings and now have the advantage over D.C. United (10-7-5, 35 points) in the Supporters Shield standings. They will host the Portland Timbers next Saturday night.
Although their performance was certainly respectable, United are now win-less in their last three matches. They will return home to RFK Stadium for the first time since June the 21st next Saturday when they host the Philadelphia Union.
FC Dallas
D.C. United
