KANSAS CITY, Kan. - FC Dallas and Sporting KC meet for the second straight season in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play as the last two tournament champions vie for a spot in the 2018 Quarterfinals. Let’s dive into the lineup that Oscar Pareja believes can put his team there for the third straight year.
4-4-2 Formation
After seeing the 4-3-3 look as commonplace in recent weeks, Oscar Pareja will once again shuffle things up with a four-man midfield at Children’s Mercy Park tonight. Carlos Gruezo and Victor Ulloa will occupy the middle, with Roland Lamah and Kellyn Acosta out wide. Maxi Urruti and Michael Barrios will serve as dual strikers up top. Dallas is 2-1-1 in MLS matches this season starting a 4-4-2 look, with three of the four matches in the formation coming on the road.
Maynor on the Left
Maynor Figueroa returns to the starting lineup after Ryan Hollingshead has gotten the nod in the last three MLS matches. The veteran did start in Dallas’ 1-0 win over San Antonio FC in the Fourth Round 10 days ago, but last started an MLS match on May 25.
Homegrown Talent
For the fourth time this season and for the second straight Open Cup match, FCD will start a match with four Homegrown players on the field: Acosta, Reggie Cannon, Jesse Gonzalez and Ulloa. Another two, Jordan Cano and Paxton Pomykal, are available off the bench. Dallas’ record for Homegrowns on the field at a single time is five.
Four other members of the bench - Tesho Akindele, Jacori Hayes, Ryan Hollingshead and Ema Twumasi - were draft picks, making Jimmy Maurer the only bench player not developed as professionals in Dallas.