FRISCO - FC Dallas opens up a two-game home stand tonight against Sporting KC at Toyota Stadium. The two sides played to a 0-0 draw on March 11. Let's dive into the lineup for FCD:
Lineup Shift
Once again, Oscar Pareja has moved formations to start the match, opting for a 4-2-3-1 look against SKC. Jesse Gonzalez will make his third straight start for Dallas, Hernan Grana returns to action after missing last week, Javier Morales will make his second MLS start in his new home and Tesho Akindele will get his second MLS start on the year on the wing.
Against Minnesota in his last start, Morales scored for Dallas and joined the short list of MLS players all-time to post 50 goals and 50 assists in his career.
Clean Sheet Crew
Jesse Gonzalez and Tim Melia have combined for six shutouts in 2017. Gonzalez was just seconds away from his third on the year in as many starts last week in San Jose and has allowed just one goal on the year. Melia picked up his fourth shutout in six games last week and SKC has allowed a league-low two goals in 2017.
Back in the 18
Midfielder Ryan Hollingshead makes his return to an FC Dallas lineup tonight on the bench just over three months after fracturing three vertebrae in his neck assisting a stranded motorist on an icy Dallas highway.
Goalkeeper Jacob Lissek will make his first appearance on an MLS roster card after signing a USL Short-Term Agreement earlier this week to serve as FCD's back-up keeper with Chris Seitz sustaining an injury in training. Lissek is in his second season with USL affiliate OKC Energy FC.