FRISCO, Texas ā Asking a rookie to start in the MLS Cup Playoffs can be daunting, especially if heās asked to handle the responsibilities at right back. But FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman felt that Zach Loyd, the fifth overall pick in Januaryās SuperDraft, was more than up to the task.
With normal starter Heath Pearce out, the move was one of necessity. And after a shaky start, Hyndman had Loyd and Jackson, a fellow newcomer who started at center back, switch spots about 20 minutes in.
The tactical adjustment paid off. FCDās back line tightened up for the final 70 minutes and didnāt allow another goal in their 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake to open their Western Conference semifinal series.
WATCH: FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
āWhen we moved Jackson to the right side and brought Zach in, it became better for both players,ā said Hyndman on Monday. āThe distribution from Jackson was better and the man-to-man defending from Zach was better. I think it was a good tactical move from our part that got us the result.ā
Looking back, the FCD gaffer admits he might have asked too much of Loyd to start out wide in the first place.
āSometimes you ask players to do things they canāt do or they donāt feel as comfortable [doing],ā said Hyndman. āWeāre in a playoff game and heās been playing center back for six to eight weeks and then, all of a sudden, you put him in at right back.
āThat doesnāt mean he couldnāt [start at right back] once a year down the road, but I thought he had a very good performance once he went in the middle.ā
Loyd hadnāt played on the right side since May 27 at Chicago, and needed a little time to adjust.
BUY: Tickets, Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas, Saturday, 10 p.m. ET
āI think I was a little rusty at the beginning, but as the game went on, I got more comfortable,ā said Loyd. āBut Jackson and I decided that we needed to make that switch. I think that was a good switch for both of us because we had been playing the opposite position, so it gave us some more comfort with where we were.ā
Hyndman wasnāt the only one who thought that both rookies performed well after the switch. FCD captain Daniel Hernandez also offered rave reviews, Loydās in particular.
āI thought he did great,ā Hernandez said. āI think all year, heās done great. Whatever position heās had to play and whenever his time has come to get on the field, heās done it with a lot of confidence. ā¦. Everybody has to be ready and Zach was a great example of that, stepping on the field for his first playoff game as a rookie and doing a great job.ā
Even after a solid showing on Saturday, Loyd is keeping things simple when it comes to how he is approaching his preparation this week.
āIām just going to stay mentally focused. Weāre just going to go to Salt Lake and try to get three points,ā he said. āWeāre not going to sit back. Weāre going to attack and try to get the goal. To come out and get a [win in the first leg] at home was big. Hopefully we can keep that attitude for this week, go into Salt Lake and get a result.ā
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