BAYAMON, Puerto Rico - FC Dallas defeated the Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League's in a preseason game on Saturday afternoon at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, Puerto Rico as part of the USL/MLS Challenge. Newly-signed Colombian midfielder Juan Carlos Toja opened the scoring in the 7th minute and Arturo Alvarez added another in the 47th for the FCD. FC Dallas will return to Texas on Sunday to prepare for the March 31 game at Pizza Hut Park against Brazilian-partner Atletico Paranaense.
"I was satisfied with the result but have totally opposite feelings to Thursday night's game," said FCD head coach Steve Morrow following the game. "I thought the performance on Thursday night was so much better than tonight and we ended up losing the game. I wasn't happy with our overall performance tonight but in the end we got the result which is always very important. But the performance wasn't good enough and I think it can get a lot better."
The starting lineup for Saturday's game had 10 new players from the one that started two days ago in the 1-0 loss to the Puerto Rico Islanders. In goal was Shaka Hislop; Bobby Rhine was at right back, Drew Moor and Clarence Goodson at center back, and Blake Wagner started at left back; Marcelo Saragosa and Juan Carlos Toja were in the middle, with Ramon Nunez, Roberto Mina, and Arturo Alvarez backing up forward Carlos Ruiz. Moor was the only player to start both games.
FCD opened the scoring in the 7th minute. Ruiz entered the Rhinos penalty area from the top on the right side, and sent a cross back across the top of the box. Juan Carlos Toja received the ball and took one touch to his left before firing home a low shot that hit the right side of the net.
Neither side could get things going in the first half. Dallas maintained possession for long stretches, but passes seemed slow and movement was not as sharp. Even so, the FCD defense built a solid line, not permitting Rochester to enter in the Dallas penalty box.
Dallas came out with more urgency to begin the second half, and tallied the second goal only two minutes in. Bobby Rhine settled a ball on the right side just passed midfield and calmly played a short pass to Ramon Nunez towards the center. Nunez turned to move forward, and advanced a through ball towards the top of the box for Toja, who was moving in from the left. Toja turned and sent a nicely-weighted through ball to the left side of the box for Alvarez. Alvarez cut the ball back to lose the oncoming defender, and hit a right-footed shot off the keeper's hands but into the back of the net.
While the ball-movement and possession improved, FCD was not able to add more goals.
"I think for the boys who played tonight, we have to learn a lesson from the game," added Morrow. "I expect a better work-rate, more commitment, and I expect us to pass the ball a lot better over than we did over 90 minutes tonight. So, as long as we learn from it."
In the late stages, Alex Yi entered for Bobby Rhine and joined Goodson at center back with Drew Moor moving out to the right. Ramon Nunez was joined at midfield by David Wagenfuhr, Dax McCarty and Aaron Pitchkolan, while Abe Thompson and Dominic Oduro replaced Carlos Ruiz and Roberto Mina respectively at forward.
FCD will return to Dallas on Sun, March 25. Pizza Hut Park will host a pair of international games this upcoming week: on Wed., March 28, the U.S. Men's National Team will take on Guatemala, which could have FCD forwards Kenny Cooper and Ruiz play for the U.S. and Guatemala respectively (8 p.m. CT). Then on Sat. March 31, FCD will host Brazilian-partner Atletico Paranaense in the return-leg of the USA-Brazil Challenge (7:30 p.m. CT). Paranaense won the first game 3-1 at Kyocera Arena in Curitiba, Brazil on March 7.
SCORING:
FCD - Juan Carlos Toja (Carlos Ruiz) 7'
FCD - Arturo Alvarez (Juan Carlos Toja) 47'
FC Dallas: Shaka Hislop, Bobby Rhine (Alex Yi 82), Drew Moor, Clarence Goodson, Blake Wagner, Marcelo Saragosa (David Wagenfuhr 85), Juan Carlos Toja (Aaron Pitchkolan 82), Roberto Mina (Dominic Oduro 79), Ramon Nunez, Arturo Alvarez (Dax McCarty 77), Carlos Ruiz (Abe Thompson 79).
Subs not used: Ray Burse, Michael Dello-Russo.
Rochester Rhinos: Scott Vallow, Chris Aloisi, Kenny Bertz (Tenywa Bonseu 46), Jason Perry, Scott Pacuta (Kevin Burns 46), Ryan Whileman (PJ Shefelver 70), Steven Shirley, Aaron Lanes (Daniel Bustos 61), Mike Ambersley (Hamed Diallo 46), Matt Delicate (Chad Severs 57), Johnny Monyenger
Subs not used: Hector Zapata, Josh Bolton, Justin Dell, Danny Kramer, Adam Artega
Attendance: ---
