SEATTLE - FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders FC meet on the penultimate day of the 2017 regular season with a playoff spot for each on the line. Let’s dive into how Oscar Pareja will lineup his side this evening in the Pacific Northwest.
Barrios the Striker
For the first time this season, Michael Barrios will lineup on the top of the formation solo in place of Maxi Urruti. The leading scorer is available off the bench for FCD, but after eclipsing his career-high in minutes in 2017 and finding the back of the net just once since the Gold Cup break, will transition to a substitute role in favor of Barrios’ speed as Dallas looks to break down the Seattle back line on the transition.
A’s on the Wings
The speedy Colombian will be flanked by Tesho Akindele on the left and Homegrown Kellyn Acosta on the right, a departure from the usual Barrios-Lamah wing tandem. Akindele lined up on the left wing three weeks ago in Minnesota, while Acosta spent 20 minutes on the left wing two weeks ago in Orlando.
Look for Acosta’s defensive prowess on the right to mesh well with Hernan Grana’s ability to get up into the attack down the line as the two will combine and provide cover.
Possession Maestro
The partial catalyst to Dallas’ three-game unbeaten run, Javier Morales will earn his fourth straight start in the midfield with Carlos Gruezo and Mauro Diaz. It is the veteran’s first run of four or more starts since late August 2016 during his final season with RSL. Pareja has praised JaviMo’s ability to calm the game down in the middle and utilize his experience to dictate Dallas’ pace of play by dominating possession and transitioning the attack.
