FOLLOW THE TRIP:Behind-the-scenes blog | U-18 blog | U-16 blog
MADRID, Spain – It was a tightly contested match for the FC Dallas U-16s today as they took on Atletico Madrid in their first match of their week in Spain. The final score was a 1-1 draw, but it felt a lot like a victory for FC Dallas, as they tied the game in dramatic fashion off a goal from Jesse Estrada in the 90th minute of the match.
The match started off shaky for FCD, and there were no scoring chances for either side in the first 20 minutes. In the 23rd minute midfielder Victor Portillo collided with the Atletico Madrid ‘keeper when both players were racing towards the ball. Portillo left the match with what is being reported as a soft muscle contusion to his right thigh. He was replaced on the field by Jairo Villalta.
In the 36th minute, the Dallas defense botched a clearance in their own third that an Atletico midfielder pounced on to give his side a 1-0 lead. The half ended with two more scoring chances for the home team, both of which were sent just wide of FCD ‘keeper Caleb Underwood’s goal.
Dallas came out in the second half much more aggressively and produced multiple scoring chances. In the 54th minute midfielder Emerson Hyndman headed a ball on goal from the box, but was thwarted by the Atletico goalkeeper. In the 55th minute the visitors were awarded a free kick just outside the 18-yard box, but the shot was sent high by Jairo Villalta.
FCD made a couple of changes in the next few minutes, subbing on Estrada for Hyndman, and Will Coleman for defender Alex Frankenfeld. Bobby Edet got another shot on goal for FC Dallas, but the ‘keeper stood tall again to maintain the 1-0 lead.
In the 69th minute Dallas made two more changes, fielding Zach Dunbar in place of Gabriel Cano and Francisco Rodriguez for Juan Herrerra. In that same minute Caleb Underwood did well to make another save to keep Dallas within a goal.
On the ensuing play Edet was pulled down on a breakaway just outside of the opposition’s box, earning a yellow card for the offending Atletico defender. The awarded free kick was sent high over the crossbar.
Atletico Madrid made a change in goal in the 72nd minute, and the new ‘keeper was immediately tested by Edet, but once again, Dallas could not break through on the score sheet. In the 74th minute coach Chris Hayden made his last two substitutions, replacing Marco Ortiz and Bobby Edet with Jacob Garza and Erick Chapa.
READ: Behind-the-scenes Madrid blog
In the 80th minute Chapa got in one-on-one with the ‘keeper, but his chip over the goalkeeper’s head bounced just wide to the left of the goal. The teams exchanged two more scoring chances in the last ten minutes of the match, but both were off target.
Dallas’ dominance would finally pay off in the last minute of the match. Francisco Rodriguez gained position on the right sideline and sent the ball in to Jairo Villalta in the middle of Madrid’s third of the field. Villalta lobbed the ball to Jesse Estrada who chested the ball down and sent a volley into the goal just outside of the ‘keeper’s reach.
WATCH: Estrada recounts his last minute goal against Atletico Madrid
“It felt really good,” Estrada said of his last-minute tally, “especially since it was against one of the best teams in Spain.”
Coach Chris Hayden said he was proud of the way his team responded after giving up the first goal during the first half of the match.
“The longer the game went on, the more effective we were at pressing them in higher positions,” Hayden said. “I think games like tonight really help our players grow. We played very well tonight against one of the best clubs in Spain.”
Goals:
Atletico Madrid – 36’
FC Dallas – 90’ Estrada (Villalta, Rodriguez)
FC Dallas starting lineup:
Underwood, Frankenfeld (Coleman 59’), Garcia, Ashby, Herrera (Rodriguez 69’), Carrizales, Ortiz (Garza 74’), Portillo (Villalta 23’), Hyndman (Estrada 56’), Edet (Chapa 74’), Cano (Dunbar 69’)
U-18s: FC Dallas 2, Rayo Vallecano 0
The FC Dallas U-18 Academy team won their first game of the week in Madrid. They defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-0. The first goal of the game came in the seventh minute by FC Dallas first team Home Grown forward Jonathan Top. Top’s goal was assisted by fellow Home Grown first team player Bryan Leyva. The U-18s got an insurance marker from Daniel Garcia in the 76th minute to win the match 2-0.
“For being the first game, I think the boys played a lot better than what they expected,” said coach Francisco Molina. “It was a tough game. (Rayo Vallecano) fielded a whole different team in the second half from the first, putting on ten brand new players. They had fresh legs all the time, but our boys responded well. I’m very happy with how they played.”
WATCH: Garcia talks about his goal against Rayo Vallecano
FOLLOW THE TRIP:Behind-the-scenes