Fabian Castillo with a fancy cross against Montreal Impact. Photo credit: Ziro Castellanos
FC Dallas needed a good showing after losing 5-0 to Houston Dynamo in the Texas Derby last week. They were going to have to bounce back against a very tough Montreal Impact team that had 6 goals in the first two games of the season. Those 6 goals for Montreal also came without the presence of Didier Drogba, who started the game on the bench.
Things were looking good for FC Dallas early in the match. Fabian Castillo played a great pass through the Impact defense to find Maximiliano Urruti in the 6th minute. Urruti’s shot from a very tight angle was headed off the line by Laurent Ciman, who was a dominating presence throughout the game for Montreal, and the follow up shot by Castillo was also blocked.
Oscar Pareja made two changes to last week’s starting lineup. Ryan Hollingshead as right back was one of those changes and he created a lot of attacking pressure. Hollingshead even had a chance to score in the 22nd minute after picking up the ball in midfield, dribbling past two players, and playing the ball to Carlos Gruezo. Unfortunately, Hollingshead could not get his foot to the ball Gruezo played across the goal inside the 6-yard box.
Montreal’s first shot on target happened in the 37th minute when Lucas Ontivero put the ball straight at Jesse Gonzalez, who got down well to block the shot.
The Impact came out stronger in the second half and as the teams traded blows, one of the main questions surrounding this game was answered in the 70th minute when Didier Drogba subbed in amidst a loud chorus of “Chelsea Reject” chants from the crowd.
Would FC Dallas pay for not having a turf field? Photo credit: Ziro Castellanos
However, it was going to take something more special than the introduction of Drogba to break the deadlock, and Mauro Diaz stepped up to deliver. After being fouled by Victor Cabrera, Diaz put his freekick over the wall and off the underside of the crossbar to set Toyota Stadium jumping.
FC Dallas iced the game in the 86th minute when substitute Tesho Akindele headed Gonzalez’s goal kick into the path of Urruti on the left side of goal. Urruti hit a half volley from just outside the 18 yard box over Evan Bush and into the right side of the net. The goal is definitely worth another look, and this goal happened so fast you actually have to wait for the replay in this highlight video.
Jesse Gonzalez, who faced a lot of action in Houston last week, only had to make his second save of the game in the 89th minute to preserve a perfect clean sheet record at home for FC Dallas this season.
After the match Oscar Pareja was content with the work he was seeing from Urruti and Diaz this season:
The chemistry is still developing and is closer to what we want. There is still a lot of work to do, but I’m glad we’re starting to see that both are giving the team what we need. Maxi and Mauro are understanding each other better each day and with every passing game.
FC Dallas improve to 2-1-0 and will be looking for better away form next week against D.C. United on Saturday, March 26th. Montreal Impact have their next MLS match away at Seattle Sounders on Saturday April 2nd.
