FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas Reserves got a boost from newly signed striker Luis Perea. The 25-year-old Colombian netted a goal and an assist in just one half of play as FC Dallas Reserves defeated Real Salt Lake Reserves 3-1 at FC Dallas Stadium Tuesday night.
A tale of two halves, Real Salt Lake Reserves controlled possession early on and took a 1-0 lead in just the ninth minute. Cody Arnoux set up the goal when he split FC Dallas’ center backs with a well-placed through ball. Emiliano Bonfigli timed his run perfectly, beating goalkeeper Chris Seitz to the ball and knocking a low shot into the far corner of the net for the goal.
FC Dallas’ best chance of the half came in the 39th minute, when Homegrown player Jonathan Top earned a free kick 28-yards from goal. Original FC Dallas Homegrown player, Bryan Leyva stepped to the kick and lofted a dangerous ball to the far corner of the six-yard box. There, Bobby Warshaw outmaneuvered his marker and headed a hard shot on goal. Fortunately for Salt Lake, goalkeeper Kyle Reynish was in perfect position to make a quality save and preserve the one-goal advantage heading into halftime.
Perea came on for Ruben Luna at halftime, but it was another strong combination from FC Dallas’ stable of Homegrown players that brought the match level in the 60th minute. The play began with a nice cross from Top from the right flank to Leyva on the left side. Leyva brought down the cross and faked a shot in the same motion before knocking a hard shot, low into the back of the net.
Leyva dazzled again in the 65th minute. The shifty midfielder beat one defender near the end line, went around a second Salt Lake player after cutting into the area, and struck the crossbar with a bending shot. Unfortunately for Leyva, the shot rebounded back to a Salt Lake defender, who ushered the ball away from danger.
FC Dallas’ first round pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Matt Hedges kept Salt Lake Reserves on its heels nearing the 70th minute. The UNC product nodded a shot off the crossbar following a corner kick taken by Leyva.
FC Dallas Academy product Mike Ambrose came on for Alex Lee in the 83rd minute. Less than a minute later, Ambrose made his mark on the match. The attacking-minded right back got the ball on the flank and chipped a dangerous ball into the area. Perea put himself in a good position to make a play on the ball and capitalized with a one-timer to the near post to make the score 2-1 in the 84th minute.
Salt Lake countered quickly and earned its best chance of the half in the 85th minute. The chance belonged to Leone Cruz, who got on the end of a Lucas Acosta cross from 25-yards out. Acosta placed the ball perfectly, but Cruz pushed his header just wide of goalkeeper Seitz’s right post.
FC Dallas closed out the scoring in the 87th minute on a goal by Top. The play was set up by Perea, who controlled the ball in a crowd near midfield before sending a long ball in on the ground for Top. The 19-year-old forward collected the ball in space at the top right corner of the area before hitting a hard shot, low to the back post. The shot just caught the side netting inside the post to give FC Dallas Reserves the 3-1 victory.
Scoring Summary:
RSL – Emiliano Bonfigli (Cody Arnoux) 9
DAL – Bryan Leyva (Jonathan Top) 60
DAL – Luis Perea (Mike Ambrose) 84
DAL – Jonathan Top (Perea) 87
Disciplinary Summary:
NONE
FC Dallas Reserves – Chris Seitz, Alex Lee (Mike Ambrose 83), George John, Matt Hedges, Moises Hernandez, Bobby Warshaw, Victor Ulloa (Bruno Guarda 55), Bryan Leyva, Andrew Wiedeman (Danny Garcia 90), Jonathan Top, Ruben Luna (Luis Perea 45).
Subs not used: Eduardo Cortez, Mark Ashby, Kellyn Acosta.
Real Salt Lake Reserves – Kyle Reynish, Nat Borchers (Carlos Salcedo), Leone Cruz, Terukazu Tanaka, Diogo de Almeida, Yordany Alvarez, Enzo Martinez (Jordan Allen 66), Jonny Steele, Nico Muniz (^Lucas Acosta 45), Cody Arnoux, Emiliano Bonfigli.
Subs not used: Lalo Fernandez, Eti Tavares.
FC Dallas Academy player
^Guest trialist
RSL-Arizona Academy player
