The two goalscorers for FC Dallas celebrate Maximiliano Urruti’s goal. (Photo credit: Olivia Brestal)
Three second half minutes were all it took for FC Dallas to earn another home win against Vancouver Whitecaps and keep their consecutive home unbeaten streak alive at 17. While a lot of the last few weeks has been consumed by whether Fabian Castillo is or is not headed to FC Trabonzpor, he most definitely is not, it was nice for Dallas supporters to see a good performance while he makes his way back from Turkey.
FC Dallas looked threatening in the first half, but Urruti looked to be having another off night and missed three good chances in the first half, including a sitter in the 25th minute that he skied over the future site of the US Soccer Hall of Fame.
It was Kellyn Acosta who finally broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with a shot that David Ousted definitely should have saved low to his left. After some sustained pressure from FC Dallas, Michael Barrios squeezed the ball through several Whitecaps defenders and Acosta raced onto the pass. Ousted got a hand to the ball, but it went under his arm and into the back of the net.
Then it was Urruti’s turn to get on the scoresheet. Atiba Harris spotted Urruti making a run between the two centerbacks. He played a great ball that bounced several times before Urruti volleyed it past Ousted, across the goal, and into the left side of the net.
FC Dallas took their foot off the gas a bit and looked to control the game in the Texas heat with an eye on the CONCACAF Champion’s League match this Thursday, August 4th, against Real Esteli FC.
Fan Highlights of the Night
Members of the Beer Garden started chanting “Melt the Whitecaps” which eventually morphed into “Global Warming: Melt the Whitecaps”. It was a good bit of humor on a very hot night in the press box.
It was also really nice to see Blaz Perez receive warm applause from FC Dallas fans when he was subbed out in the 63′.
Lineups
Dallas (4-2-3-1, left to right): Chris Seitz – Maynor Figueroa, Matt Hedges (C), Walker Zimmerman, Atiba Harris – Kellyn Acosta, Carlos Gruezo – Ryan Hollingshead, Mauro Diaz (Mauro Rosales 84′), Michael Barrios (Tesho Akindele 72′) – Maximiliano Urruti (Carlos Lizarazo 82′)
Vancouver (4-2-3-1, left to right): David Ousted – Marcel de Jong, Tim Parker, Kendall Watson, Cole Seiler – Matias Laba, Andrew Jacobson – Pedro Morales (C) (Cristian Techera 72′), Blas Pérez (Nicolás Mezquida 63′), Christian Bolaños – Masato Kudo (Erik Hurtado 63′)
