FRISCO, Texas - After three weeks off for the FIFA international break, FC Dallas returns to MLS play with a new-look lineup to face Minnesota United this evening, June 19 at 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium. Here's the lineup notes, pres. by UnitedHealthcare.
Quignon and Tafari Debut
There are two debutants in tonight's lineup as new signing Facundo Quignon and second-year defender Nkosi Tafari make their first FC Dallas appearances. Quignon joined Dallas over the international break from Lanús in his native Argentina. The 28-year-old defensive midfielder will play in the center of the park alongside Bryan Acosta, and will be tasked with protecting FCD's backline. Tafari, who's in his sophomore season after being drafted by Dallas in the first round of the 2020 SuperDraft, gets his first taste of MLS action as José Martínez's partner in central defense. Last week, Tafari started for North Texas SC in USL League One, earning a clean sheet and scoring a goal in the club's 3-0 win over defending champs Greenville Triumph SC.
Pax is BACK
It's music to every FC Dallas fan's ears as Homegrown midfielder Paxton Pomykal makes his first start since August of 2020. The 21-year-old playmaker was shut down midway through last season for surgery to fix an ongoing hip issue. Pomykal has featured as a substitute in all seven games for FCD this year as he continued to rebuild his match fitness. Now with an extra three weeks of training and recovery under his belt during the international break, Pomykal is ready to go from the start of tonight's game.
Forward Line
Dallas' forward line features a front two of Homegrown teenager Ricardo Pepi and Colombian playmaker Andrés Ricaurte. With one start this year, Pepi has typically been used as a second-half impact sub but will get the start tonight as FCD's main striker. Ricaurte has been a staple of Luchi Gonzalez's midfield so far this season but will move further up the pitch and play behind Pepi as a second striker. Look for Ricaurte to drift around the field looking for pockets of space in which to play his signature through balls in behind Minnesota's backline.
Full Lineup
Starting XI (4-4-2): Jimmy Maurer; Johnny Nelson, José Martínez, Nkosi Tafari, Ryan Hollingshead, Facundo Quignon, Bryan Acosta, Jáder Obrian, Paxton Pomykal, Andrés Ricaurte, Ricardo Pepi
Substitutes — Phelipe, Justin Che, Ema Twumasi, Edwin Cerrillo, Tanner Tessmann, Jesús Ferreira, Dante Sealy, Kalil ElMedkhar, Franco Jara.
