FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas trained today on the stadium field at Pizza Hut Park in preparation for tomorrow’s MLS Cup rematch against the Colorado Rapids (8 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel).
The light training session began with a few laps around the well-groomed pitch before the team circled up for a game of keep-away near the southeast corner flag. Three players patrolled the middle of the circle looking to intercept passes. Stationed around the outside of the circle, the rest of the team attempted to complete as many passes as possible without losing the ball. If a defender in the middle intercepted a pass, they would exit the circle and take the place of the last player to touch the ball before it was turned over. The team ended the exercise after 20 minutes.
After another 15-minute warm-up session with the FC Dallas trainers, head coach Schellas Hyndman trotted out two 11-player lineups mixed with starters and reserves. Eric Avila scored the only goal of the 30-minute session after breaking through the center of the defense and sliding a shot low to the near post.
In typical day-before-a-game fashion, Hyndman had a short discussion with the players before working on free kicks.
Highlights
- FC Dallas Home Grown player Ruben Luna won the very first cross sent in via corner kick from David Ferreira. A textbook offensive header, Luna redirected the shot down and to the left of veteran goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. Hartman reacted quickly, making a beautiful diving save to his left before the ball was cleared away by his defenders.
- Center midfielder Andrew Jacobson had a solid day winning aerial duels. First, he rose above a pack of players to win a defensive clearance before Hyndman flipped the teams to work on offensive corner kicks. Once on offense, Jacobson was the first player to a ball sent in to the top of the six-yard box. With his first touch, Jacobson volleyed a shot into the ground that bounced up and settled into the far side netting for his first goal of the practice. Jacobson battled for a third ball during the corner kick drill, keeping the play alive long enough for Brek Shea to slip into the goalmouth and hammer home a loose ball.
The training session officially ended at 11:22 a.m. Hyndman spoke to the team for a few minutes before the squad huddled up. Once in a pack, FC Dallas captain Daniel Hernandez took over, speaking to the team for several minutes before breaking the huddle.