PANAMA CITY - It’s go time on the 2018 season.
FC Dallas will open up their CONCACAF Champions League tournament with a Leg One Round of 16 match tonight against Tauro FC in the heart of Panama. Let’s take a look at the very first FC Dallas lineup of 2018.
Deja Vu
The Starting XI tonight is an exact replica of the XI that began Saturday’s preseason finale against the Portland Timbers in Tucson, Ariz. Santiago Mosquera will make his competitive debut for FCD on the wing opposite Michael Barrios, who assisted on both Maxi Urruti goals in 45 minutes of action over the weekend.
It is also the official debut of the new FCD back line with newcomers Anton Nedyalkov and Reto Ziegler and Homegrown Reggie Cannon alongside Matt Hedges.
Magician’s CCL Return
After missing last year’s CCL Knockout Round recovering from injury, Mauro Diaz will make his return to the tournament for the first time since group stage play in October 2016. Diaz accumulated eight assists in 13 appearances late last season and already picked up two assists in the preseason - both coming from set pieces. His ability in the midfield is a major driver of the FC Dallas attack.
No Kellyn Acosta
After re-aggravating a groin injury in the second half of Saturday’s preseason win over the Timbers, midfielder Kellyn Acosta did not make the trip to Panama City for the midweek match. Fellow-Homegrown Victor Ulloa will start in his place alongside Carlos Gruezo while Jacori Hayes is available off the bench in the defensive midfield roll.
Ulloa is the only remaining player on the Dallas roster from the last time Tauro FC and FCD met in CCL play back in 2011.
