FRISCO, Texas - Head coach Luchi Gonzalez gives 17-year-old Homegrown Justin Che his MLS debut as FC Dallas takes on LAFC tonight, June 23 at 9:30PM at Banc of California Stadium. Here's the lineup notes, pres. by UnitedHealthcare.
Justin Che Debuts
Tonight's big surprise is the inclusion of teenaged defender Justin Che who makes his FCD and MLS debut just a few weeks after returning from his loan to Bayern Munich II. Che will line up as a right wing back in FCD's 3-5-2 formation. Last year, the Richardson, Texas native played in all 16 games for North Texas SC (FCD's USL League One affiliate), alternating between center back and right back. Although he was named in the League One Best XI for 2020, tonight will be a big test for Che as he'll be tasked with keeping tabs on LAFC's usual forward line of Diego Rossi, Carlos Vela and Corey Baird. Although he's listed as a wing back, expect Che to stay closer to his back three center backs while Ryan Hollingshead will venture further forward on the opposite flank.
Bressan Returns
Brazilian defender Bressan returns to FCD's lineup and will play in the middle of the three central defenders with José MartÃnez and Nkosi Tafari to his left and right respectively. Bressan was unavailable for Dallas' match against Minnesota last week as he'd only just returned from a trip to his native Brazil where he received his U.S. green card. Now with his green card in hand, Bressan will count as a domestic player in FCD's roster designation, giving the team an extra international player roster spot. Tonight is Bressan's seventh start and eighth appearance of the season.
Forward Line
Dallas' forward line features the team's two top scorers. Eighteen-year-old Homegrown Ricardo Pepi and Colombian speedster Jáder Obrian both have two goals to their name this year and will lead the line together tonight. It's Pepi's second consecutive start after getting the nod in Dallas' 1-1 draw with Minnesota last week that saw the youngster score his team's equalizing goal with an impressive left-footed strike. The match also saw the return of fellow Homegrown Jesús Ferreira who made his first appearance of the season after a shoulder injury sidelined him for the first chunk of the year. Ferreira gets his first start of 2021 tonight and will play behind Pepi and Obrian as a link between the midfield and attack.
Full Lineup
Starting XI (3-5-2): Jimmy Maurer; José MartÃnez, Bressan, Nkosi Tafari; Ryan Hollingshead, Justin Che, Facundo Quignon, Bryan Acosta, Jesús Ferreira; Jáder Obrian, Ricardo Pepi
Substitutes — Phelipe, John Nelson, Ema Twumasi, Edwin Cerrillo, Tanner Tessmann, Paxton Pomykal, Andrés Ricaurte, Freddy Vargas, Franco Jara.
