Oscar Pareja talks strategy with Michael Barrios as they head in for the half. (Photo credit: Ziro Castellanos)
FC Dallas left it late in both halves but were able beat the Nicaraguan league champions, Real Estelí FC, in front of 7,466 fans at Toyota Stadium.
The FC Dallas looked disjointed in the first part of the game. There were a lot of almost touches in scoring positions, but as the half wore on the players started finding their rhythm.
Michael Barrios almost scored in the 20th minute when Justo Lorente bumbled the ball but it came off the right post and he made sure to smother any chance of a rebound.
FC Dallas scored with just a minute left in the half. Mauro Diaz put in a shot that the keeper saved. The ball was cleared but right to Ryan Hollinghead, who took a quick touch past his defender and crossed the ball in front of goal. Michael Barrios came sliding in to put the ball away for a dramatic opening goal with little time left for a response from Estelí.
They did not take long to respond after the restart, however. Substitute Juan Berdun, who was only on the pitch for three minutes, collected a long pass over the top from Rudel Calero. Berdun seemingly had no angle to shoot from but put the ball over Jesse Gonzalez and into the back of the net off the underside of the cross bar.
Real Esteli FC celebrate the equalizer. (Photo credit: Ziro Castellanos)
Lorente stopped several decent chances to keep the game level. Sustained pressure from FC Dallas kept Esteli pinned back in their half. Urruti got the ball after a Mauro Rosales cross was deflected from an Estelí defender. Urruti took a couple touches on the left and found Figueroa running towards the box. Figueroa curled a beautiful ball into the upper right hand corner of the net for the game winner.
FC Dallas start off their CONCACAF Champion’s League with a win. (Photo credit: Ziro Castellanos)
Lineups
FC Dallas (4-2-3-1, left to right): Jesse Gonzalez – Maynor Figueroa, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, Atiba Harris – Kellyn Acosta (Mauro Rosales 81′), Carlos Gruezo – Ryan Hollingshead (Tesho Akindele 55′), Maruo Diaz (C), Michael Barrios (Victor Ulloa 89′) – Maximiliano Urruti
Real Estelí FC (4-2-3-1, left to right): Justo Lorente – Manuel Rosas, Johnatan Mosquera, Luis Copete, Josue Quijano – Franklin Lopez, Jabis – Maycon Santana (Juan Berdun 45′ (Francisco Paz 73′)), Gregorio Torres, Samuel Wilson (C) – Rudel Calero (Elmer Mejia 65′)
