FRISCO, Texas – David Ferreira might have gotten all the attention for his brace last Friday night against Colorado, but it was the work from center back Ugo Ihemelu that put FC Dallas on the board first in their 3-0 win over defending champion Colorado.
After a corner kick from Ferreira and header from Marvin Chavez to put the ball back in the Rapids' six-yard box, Ihemelu found himself with a clear shot on goal in the 26th minute.
“[George] John and [Jeff] Larentowicz went up for it in front of me and I could tell they weren’t going to get to it,” said Ihemelu after Tuesday’s training session. “George got a little push in the back, [the ball] dropped right in front of me, I knew where the goal was and luckily it kissed the post and went it. … I think it helped get us going in the right direction.”
It certainly did. After being shutout in back to back games for the first time since 2007, Ihemelu jumpstarted the FC Dallas offensive unit with his second career goal against his former team.
[inline_node:332896]“It’s just those two goals, I have been in the right place at the right time and reacted well to the ball,” admitted Ihemelu. “I wish it would have been like that in the final [against Colorado] in Toronto. I had an opportunity but didn’t do well with it.”
Not only was the goal the first of the season for Ihemelu, but the game also marked his first start of the year at center back.
After spending much of the preseason rehabbing a sports hernia injury and starting his first game at right back against Columbus, Ihemelu has settled into his center back spot alongside George John.
FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman praised his team’s defensive performance in the the first meeting of 2010 MLS Cup finalists this season.
“When you look at the early games, that’s what we’ve been missing – a little bit of consistency in our backs,” said Hyndman. “Brek [Shea’s] done a fantastic job filling in, but with John out and Ugo out, there just wasn’t a lot of chemistry, teamwork and communication and I thought the other night [against Colorado] was the best we’ve played as far as the defensive back four.”
Hyndman started yet another new back four against the Rapids as Jair Benitez sat out with a left hamstring strain and Jackson Goncalves served a suspension for his red card against Columbus.
Zach Loyd played right back, Shea manned the left back spot, and John and Ihemelu filled the center back positions. Ihemelu said he felt comfortable with his surroundings Friday night.
“It’s real easy with George," he said. "I think we kind of have a good understanding of each other and then, with [goalkeeper Kevin] Hartman back there, you know the communications always good.”
