FC Dallas picked up their fourth win in as many matches Saturday afternoon with an impressive 5-1 win over Missouri State at Pizza Hut Park. The Bears took a shock lead just 10 minutes into the game, but then five different players scored for Colin Clarke's side to earn the win and improve to 4-0-0 in the preseason.
Kyle Hopson found the net to put Missouri State ahead, but the Hoops would answer 15 minutes later when Dominic Oduro scored his team best third goal of the preseason. Blake Wagner played a high ball forward from midfield for Oduro, who was able to settle the ball and then turn past his defender before slotting a low shot past the Missouri State 'keeper to even the score at 1-1.
After opening the scoring for Dallas, Oduro proceeded to start the attack for his team's next goal late in the opening half. He collected the ball 35 yards from goal in the center of the park and weighted a perfect pass out to Mario Torres on the left wing. Torres whipped a left-footed cross through the box for Sean Babcock, who slid in at the back post to redirect the cross into the goal and give his team its first lead at 2-1.
The score would stay that way until halftime, but FCD would waste little time in doubling their lead to 3-1. Torres, who moved from the left wing to amore central role in the second half, was the scorer this time, collecting a short pass from Arturo Alvarez and quickly firing a left-footed shot just inside the far post to give the Hoops a two-goal advantage.
FC Dallas were thoroughly controlling the match and putting constant pressure on the MSU goal. That pressure would pay off once again midway through the half when Kenny Cooper struck for his first goal in an FC Dallas uniform.
Michael Dello-Russo made a long diagonal run with the ball from his right back position, beating a pair of Bear defenders before finding Cooper with a defender on his back inside the box. Copper collected the pass, turned past his defender and ripped a left-footed shot into the net for a 4-1 advantage.
Clarence Goodson would round out the scoring late on when he snuck in at the back post to head home a Torres corner kick to make the score 5-1. Torres, Babcock and Alvarez would all go close in the game's final minutes but they could not add to the final 5-1 scoreline.
FC Dallas will play their final preseason game of the month on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. CT when they host SMU at Pizza Hut Park.
Scoring Summary:
MSU: Kyle Hopson
FCD: Oduro (Wagner)
FCD: Babcock (Torres, Oduro)
FCD: Torres (Alvarez)
FCD: Cooper (Dello-Russo)
FCD: Goodson (Torres)
FC Dallas Lineup: Dario Sala, Miguel Guante, Michael Dello-Russo, Alex Yi (Clarence Goodson 46'), Blake Wagner, Sean Babcock, Justin Moore (Drew Moor 46'), Aaron Pitchkolan (Arturo Alvarez 46'), Mario Torres, Dominic Oduro (Abe Thompson 46'), Chris Joyce (Kenny Cooper 46').
