BAYAMON, Puerto Rico - FC Dallas dropped the first game of the Puerto Rico leg of preseason on Thursday night, losing 1-0 to the Puerto Rico Islanders of the United Soccer Leagues. A 32nd minute goal by Islanders' forward Alex Marcina was the difference as FCD lost the nightcap of Puerto Rico USL/MLS Challenge doubleheader. In the first game, the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Rochester Rhinos (USL) 3-2.
"I was absolutely delighted with everything apart from the result," said Morrow. "I thought it was a very good team performance. We had a lot of young kids out there as well who performed very, very well. I thought we dominated the game from start to finish."
FCD head coach Steve Morrow selected a starting lineup mixed with veteran players, rookies, and second and third year players looking to impress. Using the 4-2-3-1 formation that has been used throughout preseason, Dario Sala started in the nets, with Michael Dello-Russo at right back, Alex Yi and Drew Moor in center defense, and David Wagenfuhr on the left. Playing in the linking midfield roles were Aaron Pitchkolan and Dax McCarty; with Dominic Oduro starting in front on the right, Sandy Gbandi Jr. in the middle, and Scott Jones on the left. Abe Thompson mixed in with the attack from the top position.
"We've got two games in three days so we wanted to push guys through 90 minutes as much as possible. We knew it was going to be two different lineups for Thursday and Saturday and we wanted to keep both teams as strong as possible. I was delighted all around; a lot of young kids showed very, very well tonight."
Dallas had control of the ball for long stretches of the first half, moving the ball from side to side and sending the speedy Oduro forward into open spaces often. However, the Islanders defense did well in preventing the final pass from connecting.
The home-side took advantage of a play at the 32 minute mark to take the lead. A ball was sent down the right flank to an Islanders midfielder who sent a cross into the area. Two FCD defenders converged along with Sala, and forward Alex Marcina got on the end of the lose ball to push it through for lone tally.
FCD kept the pressure on throughout the second. In the 57th minute, Dello-Russo hit a hard shot off an indirect kick from 35-yards out that was blocked by the keeper. Abe Thompson twice entered the area and was denied by Islanders keeper Josh Saunders. In the 82 minute, Thompson turned a defender in the box, and though his point-blank shot went through the keepers leg, the keeper had touched enough of the ball to divert it to the right by the near post.
The Hoops thought they had tied the game in the final minutes when Oduro knocked in a rebound off an Arturo Alvarez shot. However, though the linesman kept his flag down and ran to the center of the field to indicate the goal, the center referee called Oduro for being offisides on the initial shot.
"Possession was good; the work rate was very, very good throughout; our system worked very well - and we kept our formation throughout the game," added Morrow. "I thought there was a lot of good stuff, created a lot of good chances as well; and lost the game to an offsides call. Disappointed in not getting the three points but I was more than delighted with the performance."
FCD will play the Rochester Rhinos on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT before returning to Dallas on Sunday evening.
SCORING:
PRI - Alex Marcina (unassisted) 32'
FC DALLAS: Dario Sala, David Wagenfuhr, Alex Yi, Drew Moor (Clarence Goodson 46), Michael Dello-Russo, Dax McCarty (Ramon Nunez 80), Aaron Pitchkolan (Marcelo Saragosa 80'), Dominic Oduro, Sandy Gbandi Jr. (Roberto Mina 73'), Scott Jones (Arturo Alvarez 73'), Abe Thompson.
Subs not used: Shaka Hislop, Ray Burse, Bobby Rhine, Clarence Goodson, Blake Wagner, Juan Carlos Toja, Carlos Ruiz, Tommy Krizanovic.
PUERTO RICO ISLANDERS: Josh Saunders, David Johnson, Mauricio Segovia, Marco Velez, Alexis Rivera, Edwin Miranda, Gustavo Avila, Noah Delgado (Jeremie Piette 94+), Alex Marcina (Goran Vujanovic 86), Victor Herrera, Neil Emblen (Alberto Zapata 73).
Subs not used: Terrence Boss, Luis Arroyo, Jay Needham, Ruben Diaz, Alberto Delgado, Cristian Caicedo.
Attendance: 5,321
