FC Dallas extends unbeaten streak at Toyota Stadium to franchise-best 17 matches
FRISCO, Texas (Sunday, July 31) – MLS All-Star and Plano native Kellyn Acosta netted the game-winning goal in the 56th minute and striker Maxi Urruti added an insurance goal in the 59th minute as FC Dallas’ (13-6-5, 44 points) topped Vancouver, 2-0, today at Toyota Stadium.
Six minutes in, FC Dallas nearly took a 1-0 lead when Mauro Diaz, Atiba Harris and Ryan Hollingshead combined to set up a shot for Urruti. Unfortunately for FCD, the Argentine’s right-footed attempt skipped just wide of the far post.
Harris earned a free kick in a dangerous spot for FC Dallas the second time he got forward in the 17th minute. Off the left side, just outside the area, Diaz lofted the free kick into the area, but Whitecaps FC center back Kendall Waston rose above the pack to usher the ball towards the touch line.
Michael Barrios set up Urruti with a second chance in the 25th minute. The Colombian winger made a long run up the right flank and was rewarded with a ball played over the top. Barrios collected the pass near the end line, picked his head up and played Urruti a long pass across the area, but once again the Argentine striker could not keep his attempt on frame.
FC Dallas broke through in the 56th minute when Diaz slipped a pass inside to Barrios at the top of the area. Barrios also cut back and was able to deliver a pass through a group of Vancouver defenders to Acosta. The MLS All-Star netted his second goal of the season, beating Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted to the back post to make it 1-0.
Three minutes later, Urruti atoned for his earlier misses by striking a pass from Harris perfectly, looping a hard-struck shot over the head of Ousted and into the far side netting, to make it 2-0 in the 59th minute.
The goal was Urruti’s third in his last three starts. The assist was Harris’ first this season and his 25th of his MLS career.
FC Dallas hosts Real Esteli of Nicaragua in its first match in CONCACAF Champions’ League play, Thursday, Aug. 4. The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. CT.
Scoring Summary:
DAL: Kellyn Acosta (Michael Barrios, Mauro Diaz) 56
DAL: Maxi Urruti (Atiba Harris) 59
FC Dallas – Chris Seitz, Maynor Figueroa, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, Atiba Harris, Kellyn Acosta, Carlos Gruezo, Ryan Hollingshead, Mauro Diaz (Mauro Rosales 85), Michael Barrios (Tesho Akindele 73), Maxi Urruti (Carlos Lizarazo 84).
Substitutes Not Used: Jesse Gonzalez, Mauro Rosales, Victor Ulloa, Aubrey David, Juan Esteban Ortiz.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC – David Ousted, Cole Seiler, Tim Parker, Andrew Jacobson, Kendall Waston, Pedro Morales (Cristian Techera 73), Christian Bolanos, Matias Laba, Masato Kudo (Erik Hurtado 64), Blas Perez (Nicolas Mezquida 64).
Substitutes Not Used: David Edgar, Fraser Aird, Alphonso Davies, Paolo Tornaghi.
Misconduct Summary:
Referee: Jair Marrufo
AR1 (bench): Philippe Briere; AR2 (opposite): Kermit Quisenberry; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal.
Weather: Sunny, 99
Attendance: 13,827
