FC Dallas and Clube Atletico Paranaense's U-20 team drew 2-2 on Tuesday in a game played at the Paranaense Training Center. The home side took the lead after 25 minutes on a goal by Raul and then FCD rookie Brek Shea scored twice in the second half to give FCD the lead. However, Atletico forward Manoel headed home the equalizer with five minutes to play.
"It was definitely a game of two halves," said FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow. "I didn't think we played well at all in the first half. A lot of guys had trouble moving the ball, getting it stuck under their feet and so on. But as the game went on we got a lot more used to the field."
Atletico had the majority of possession for longer stretches of the first half, with FCD seemingly having a difficult time connecting passes. FCD goalkeeper Josh Lambo stopped CAP's first challenge, when he went to his left to make a diving save off a Deivid shot at the near post.
CAP continued pressing, and in the 25th minute opened the scoring. CAP forward Patrick got behind the defense, running across the top of the box. Lambo came off the line and was able to dive on the feet of the player, however, the ball bounced to midfielder Raul whose shot hit off the underside of the crossbar and then bounced in for the goal.
While the Dallas defense did well to keep CAP from entering the box dangerously, the home side was comfortable unleashing long-range shots, with accuracy. Lambo twice made diving saves to keep the score at 1-0 at the break.
The second half was completely different, as FCD created numerous chances. Nearly ten minutes in, Dominic Oduro intercepted an errant pass and used his speed to get by the last defender just right of center. As he took the ball in the box, CAP keeper Neto came out to cut off the angle. Oduro looked up and saw teammate Brek Shea running in at the opposite side. Shea met Oduro's pass and hit it into the empty net to even the score.
Fifteen minutes later, second half goalkeeper Dan Kennedy easily caught a long-range shot, and quickly sent a 70 yard punt downfield. Shea had one man on, but was able to redirect the punt towards goal. The CAP keeper had anticipated the shot, and took the shot off the chest right at the top of the penalty box. The ball fell back to Shea, who took a shot from just outside the arc hitting the left side of the net to give FCD the lead.
"The second half we created a lot of opportunities and moved the ball well," added Morrow. "Going 2-1 up, we should've saw out the game, really. It would have been nice to get a victory, but I was pleased with the second half performance."
FCD continued to create chances, with Shea nearly scoring his third of the day five minutes after his second. Again it was Oduro that sprung Shea open, leaving him to run in at the keeper. This time however, the keeper got his leg on the ball for the save as the two collided just inside the box.
Ricardinho and Andre Rocha each made their first appearance against their former teammates when they entered in the 80th minute. Ricardinho had a quick chance to score, however he mistimed his jump on an Oduro centering pass and could not redirect the pass towards goal from six yards out.
CAP was able to equalize with five minutes to go, as Patrick sent a low drive from the right side to the near post, where midfielder Manoel snuck in a header just past Kennedy.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CAP - Raul (unassisted) 25'
FCD - Shea (Oduro) 54'
FCD - Shea (unassisted) 70'
CAP - Manoel (Patrick) 85'
FC DALLAS (3-4-3): Josh Lambo (Dan Kennedy 46), Andrew Daniels, Aaron Pitchkolan, Alex Yi, Michael Dello-Russo, Eric Avila (Chase Wileman 75'), Anthony Wallace (Andre Rocha 80'), Blake Wagner (David Wagenfuhr 87'), Brek Shea (Ricardinho 80'), Dominic Oduro, Abdus Ibrahim (Toja 75')
CAP U-20 (3-5-2): 1-Neto (12-Rafael 70), 4-Ronaldo (16-Cristiano 70'), 5-Andre (15-Bruno T. 55), 3-Douglas, 11-Alex Sandro, 6-Bileu (18-Fagner 46'), 7-Uillian, 2-Raul (13-Manoel 55'), 8-Deivid (17-Douglas C. 70'), 9-Willian (14-Bruno 65'), 10-Patrick.
