FRISCO, Texas – At times in 2014, FC Dallas have been one of the most dangerous teams in MLS. With recent home wins against Real Salt Lake, Vancouver, Seattle and Sunday's comeback victory vs. the LA Galaxy, the North Texas club is looking like a menacing proposition come the postseason.
For most of those games, one or both of the Colombian wing duo of Fabian Castillo and Andres Escobar has driven the attacking bus for Oscar Pareja's side. The victory against the Galaxy was Exhibit A, as Escobar was involved in both goals and Castillo provided the decider in the 87th minute.
Castillo has been a known commodity for much of the season, and the game-winning goal Sunday gave him 10 this year, tying the electric left-footer with Panamanian forward Blas Perez for the team lead.
“It was awesome,” said veteran defender Zach Loyd about Castillo’s triumphant return from injury. “Everyone could see how much we miss him. Just being on the field he is a huge threat. He draws two, three guys and gets other guys open.
“It was fitting – the story of his season to get that goal. I’m excited for him and the progress he has shown over the last two or three years.”
Pareja was quick to note that Castillo’s success has been evident throughout the season, as the winger developed a newfound maturity as a professional.
“He's had a tremendous season so far and we have to make everyone understand that it's not just his speed, but his commitment to work for the team,” said Pareja on Sunday. “Fabian is gaining respect from his teammates in that regard. He's a team player now, more than before, and the game is rewarding him.
“I'm happy for him, but he knows that every day I raise the bar.”
The quieter story, but one just as important to Dallas’ success in the second half of the season, has been the emergence of Castillo and Pareja's countryman Escobar. The winger arrived in the offseason on loan from Dynamo Kiev, and like many internationals, it took Escobar some time to adjust to MLS. But as he's gained a handle on the league, he's grown into an important cog in the FC Dallas attack.
“Everyone knows that he is a skilled player,” said forward David Texeira. “With his skill, when he has the ball one-on-one with a defender, I expect that he will beat them. I focus on that. He will get the ball. He will send in the cross. He will assist me.”
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For the second time in three games, that expectation has paid off for Texeira and FC Dallas.
“We timed it well,” Texeira said of his 52nd-minute goal, one that resulted from a quality through ball from Escobar that the forward finished clinically. “I expected that he would give me the ball, so I made the run and waited for the ball to leave his foot. He gave it to me and I saw that the 'keeper was coming to take the ball off my foot, so I shot quickly and finished at the near post.”
Escobar also provided the assists for both of Texeira’s goals against Seattle in Dallas’ 3-1 victory against the Sounders on September 24.
With playmaker Mauro Diaz continuing to work his way back from a series of injuries, creativity in the midfield is a key commodity for FCD – and with the Colombian connection humming along behind Castillo and Escobar, Dallas once again are a team to fear as the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs approach.
