FRISCO - FC Dallas had their moments in Leg One of their matchup vs. Tauro FC, but one corner kick the other way has them in a 1-0 hole at the halfway point in the Round of 16.
For the first real match of the season, Dallas looked to be finding their rhythm after the opening half hour, putting forth four of their five shots on target for the match over the last 10 minutes of the first frame. Tauro goalkeeper Oscar McFarlane had an answer for each chance, though, and kept it a scoreless game at the break.
“We had opportunities and we couldn’t take advantage of them,” midfielder Mauro Diaz said. “We played on a tough pitch, one which was really heavy and the weather was also heavy. Anyways I think we had a great match but they found themselves a goal.”
“We had the game controlled going into the locker room,” head coach Oscar Pareja said of his team’s chances after a slow start. “In the second half, Tauro stood up well and we couldn’t find more ideas. I think we wore ourselves out while the game went on. They had a chance on a set piece in which we know is a dangerous, effective play from them. Aguilar came to the first post, we failed in marking him and they got the goal.”
Now, heading back home, Dallas needs to earn a result at Toyota Stadium or risk being ousted from the tournament. Not finding a lone road goal will make their task a little tougher come next Wednesday night.
"We have to play more aggressive. This is our style. And maybe press them a bit higher up. We were waiting. And I have a feeling they wanted it more than us today," defender Reto Ziegler said. "This is a big opportunity for us and for the club and we cannot miss the second game [of this series]"
“The series, since there is a return leg, is still an open competition,” Pareja added. “We need to come back strong and go back to Dallas and get the result we need. In a way, like we planned. Today things didn’t go our way but in a week we will have another chance at home.”
