The Tigres match can be heard in Spanish on Univision 1270 AM with
play-by-play from Carlos Alvarado. Stay tuned to FCDallas.com for the
full match recap.
FRISCO, Texas – While most MLS teams are testing their depth charts ahead of the international friendly date this Saturday, FC Dallas traveled to Monterrey, Mexico, where they will face Tigres UANL in the renewal of the Rio Grande Plate on Wednesday night.
FCD captain Daniel Hernandez, a veteran of the Mexican league, thinks this is a good opportunity for FC Dallas to reacquaint themselves with the 51-year-old club.
“We are going down there trying to start this new relationship with Tigres,” Hernandez told FCDallas.com before departing for Mexico. “They play great soccer, have a great atmosphere in their stadium, and it will be a good test for us.”
FC Dallas’ relationship with Tigres dates back to 2006, when the MLS team won the first match 2-0 at home before capturing the inaugural Rio Grande Plate with a 5-4 win in penalties in Monterrey.
In 2007, Tigres posted two 2-0 wins over FC Dallas, regaining the silver plate that serves as the trophy.
Before the partnership ended in 2008 – with the Mexican side retaining the plate after a 3-1 penalty-kick victory – Tigres had dominated the competition, registering 10 goals to FCD’s six.
Hernandez, who has played for Necaxa, Puebla and Jaguares throughout his 14-year career, pointed out that current Tigres forward Héctor Mancilla is a “great goal-scorer” and that “Tigres has probably the best atmosphere in Mexico.”
“They have struggled over the past two or three years, but they have brought in some great players,” said Hernandez.
For FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman, this is a good opportunity to give playing time to those that don’t see action in MLS games.
“It’s great to build that relationship again,” said Hyndman. “For us, personally, it’s more players out on the field, giving them more playing time and giving them more opportunities to learn our structure.”
Eight of the 18 players on the travel roster to Mexico did not participate in last Saturday’s season opener against Chicago.
For Tigres, they will be without one of their players, defender Jonathan Bornstein, who is currently training with the US national team ahead of their friendly against Argentina.
The Mexican team has lost just once in 11 league games and currently sits fourth in the 2011 Clausura standings with 20 points, sandwiched between CONCACAF Champions League semifinalists Cruz Azul and Monterrey.
The game can be heard in Spanish on Univision 1270 AM with play-by-play from Carlos Alvarado. Stay tuned to FCDallas.com for the full match recap.