Tesho Akindele scores twice in three minutes to lift FC Dallas over league-leaders
• Reto Ziegler scores his second goal of the season via free kick in the 22
nd
minute
• Maxi Urruti assists on game-tying goal in 86
th
minute
• FCD returns to action this Salt Lake this Saturday, July 7 on TXA 21 (9 PM CT)
FRISCO
– FC Dallas came from behind with two late goals by
Tesho Akindele
to defeat Atlanta United FC, 3-2, tonight at Toyota Stadium.
FC Dallas nearly had a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute when
Michael Barrios
played right back
Reggie Cannon
a pass to compliment the Homegrown defender’s overlapping run. Cannon got to the end line and centered a pass to
Maxi Urruti
. The Argentine forward knocked a first-touch strike on goal but Atlanta defender Franco Escobar stepped in front of the shot to send it out for a corner kick.
Victor Ulloa
picked off a pass and quickly put Urruti in on goal again in the seventh minute. Urruti turned and ripped a low shot but Atlanta defender Michael Parkhurst recovered in time to make a sliding block, once again sending the ball out for an FC Dallas corner kick.
FC Dallas goalkeeper
Jesse Gonzalez
came up with a big save in the 18
th
minute to keep the highest-scoring offense in MLS off the board. Former FC Dallas Academy player, Mikey Ambrose made an overlapping run down FCD’s left side and was rewarded with a pass from Atlanta’s Miguel Almiron. Ambrose chipped a pass to the back post, where Julian Gressel cracked a volley on goal, but Gonzalez slid across his line to block the attempt with his chest.
Roland Lamah
earned a free kick for FC Dallas at the top of the box in the 21
st
minute. Center back
Reto Ziegler
stepped up to take the kick, ripping a left-footed shot just over the wall and inside the post to Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s left side to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.
Atlanta leveled the match, 1-1, in the 41
st
minute when Hector Villalba received a pass on the right flank, skipped by FC Dallas defender
Maynor Figueroa
, and centered a pass to the top of the six yard box. Josef Martinez was there to deflect a shot past Gonzalez, who dove to his right side and got a hand on the ball, but could not keep it out of the net. The goal was Martinez’s league-leading 16
th
goal of the season.
Martinez scored his second of the match to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead in the 73
rd
minute. Almiron received a pass in-behind the FC Dallas midfield, ran at FCD’s back line and slipped a pass in for Martinez to hit with his first touch. Gonzalez stepped out to cut down on the striker’s angle but Martinez ripped a shot over the goalkeeper’s right foot to score his 17
th
of the year.
FC Dallas head coach
Oscar Pareja
responded with two substitutions, bringing on
Ryan Hollingshead
and Tesho Akindele. The duo connected on a play up the left flank in the 86
th
minute that tied the match, 2-2. Hollingshead hit a sharp pass at Urruti, who flicked a pass into space. Akindele grabbed the ball just beyond midfield, raced towards goal and beat Guzan with a hard shot from just inside the area.
Two minutes later, Akindele put away the game-winner following a goal-mouth scramble following an FC Dallas corner kick.
Lineups:
FC Dallas – Jesse Gonzalez, Maynor Figueroa (Ryan Hollingshead 82), Reto Ziegler, Matt Hedges, Reggie Cannon, Victor Ulloa (Tesho Akindele 75), Carlos Gruezo, Roland Lamah, Michael Barrios, Maxi Urruti, Santiago Mosquera (Kellyn Acosta 57).
Substitutes not used: Jimmy Maurer, Jesus Ferriera, Jacori Hayes, Kris Reaves.
Atlanta United FC – Brad Guzan, Franco Escobar, Michael Parkhurst, Mikey Ambrose, Leandro Gonzalez-Perez, Miguel Almiron, Jeff Larentowicz, Julian Gressel, Ezequiel Barco (Miles Robinson 83), Hector Villalba (Kevin Kratz 69), Josef Martinez.
Substitutes not used – Andrew Carleton, Sal Zizzo, Alec Kann, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Romario Williams.
Scoring Summary:
DAL: Reto Ziegler 22
ATL: Josef Martinez (Hector Villalba) 41
ATL: Josef Martinez (Miguel Almiron) 73
DAL: Tesho Akindele (Maxi Urruti) 86
DAL: Tesho Akindele 88
Misconduct Summary:
DAL: Roland Lamah (caution) 14
ATL: Franco Escobar (caution) 45
Weather
: Clear, 91 degrees
Attendance:
17,298
