FRISCO, Texas - Head coach Luchi Gonzalez gives winger Szabolcs Schön his first MLS start as FC Dallas takes on the LA Galaxy tonight, July 24 at 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium. Here's the lineup notes, pres. by UnitedHealthcare.
Schön
Winger Szabolcs Schön gets his first FC Dallas start since joining the club from MTK Budapest earlier this season. The Hungarian has featured as a second-half substitute on five occasions, racking up 100 combined MLS minutes so far. Schön will play out on the left wing in Luchi’s 4-4-1-1 formation, with Paxton Pomykal lining up on the opposite wing.
Ricaurte Returns
Midfielder Andrés Ricaurte makes his first start in six games and will play alongside Facundo Quignon in the middle of the park. The 29-year-old Colombian started seven of Dallas’ first eight game but has been used primarily as a second-half sub over the last month. As Dallas’ most creative midfielder, Ricaurte’s inclusion as one of two holding mids is a sign that Luchi is favoring a more attacking approach than we’ve seen in recent games.
Pepi at Striker
After two games out on the right wing, leading scorer Ricardo Pepi returns to his natural center forward position. The shift sees fellow forward Franco Jara return to the subs bench after leading the line in Dallas’ previous two games (which were both on the road). The change is not an indictment of Pepi or Jara’s performances in recent times, but instead is a tactical setup that Luchi prefers when playing at home in Toyota Stadium.
Full Lineup:
Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Jimmy Maurer; Bressan, Nkosi Tafari; Ryan Hollingshead, Justin Che, Andrés Ricaurte, Facundo Quignon, Paxton Pomykal, Szabolcs Schön; Jesús Ferreira, Ricardo Pepi
Substitutes:
Phelipe, Johnny Nelson, Brandon Servania, Ema Twumasi, Edwin Cerrillo, Dante Sealy, Franco Jara, Jáder Obrian, Freddy Vargas
