FRISCO, Texas – Less than 24 hours after the final whistle of a 2-1 victory for the FC Dallas U-18 Academy team over their Dynamo counterparts, the side would return to Pizza Hut Park for an overcast Sunday morning international friendly against the U-18 squad of Mexico’s Primera Division Champions, Monterrey.
READ: FCD U-16s beat Tigres 3-0
The match started poorly for FC Dallas, going down two goals in the first half. But the team would come alive in the second to earn two of their own and end the game tied at two. The match had a furious pace to it, and the strong winds from the south undoubtedly impacted the scoring, as all four of the game’s goals would be scored on the north end of the field.
The first goal of the game came just 10 minutes in from Monterrey captain Luis Madrigal to give the visiting team a 1-0 lead. FC Dallas forward Victor Pinal, who scored the game-winner against Houston the day before, would get his first of many quality chances on the Monterrey goal just three minutes later as he sent a shot just over the crossbar.
Monterrey doubled their lead just four minutes after Pinal’s chance off a goal by Ulices Bricento. In the 18th and 21st minute Monterrey produced two more quality scoring chances, but FCD goalkeeper Bryan Landazuri did well to hold the visiting team’s lead to two goals. Landazuri has only been with the FC Dallas U-18s for two weeks, but at 6’6” and 215 pounds, the imposing Colombian ‘keeper has proven capable of making some big saves.
Despite working against the wind, momentum began to swing in FCD’s favor towards the end of the half. In the 24th minute midfielder Daniel Garcia tested Monterrey goalkeeper Luis Cardenas. In the 34th Pinal sent his second chance of the match just left off the goal and in the 37th an FC Dallas free kick set up a header that barely cleared the crossbar of the Monterrey goal.
Down two goals at halftime, FC Dallas would replace Landazuri in goal with Eduardo Cortez to start the second with the wind in their favor.
“In the second half we had a lot more energy going forward and people got on the end of things, so that was good,” said coach Chris Hayden. “The wind allowed us to put a little bit more pressure on them in the second half.”
In the 52nd minute Monterrey forced Cortez to make two saves to preserve the score line, but just four minutes later Daniel Garcia worked the ball forward to Victor Pinal on Monterrey’s end of the field. Pinal scored to bring FC Dallas within one. Two minutes after that it would be Garcia’s turn to beat the Monterrey ‘keeper and tie the game at two.
Pinal had three more scoring chances before the end of the match, but was unable to convert again for Dallas. In the 85th and 86th minutes Cortez made two more spectacular saves to keep the game tied at two and preserve the comeback tie for FC Dallas.
“In the second half we worked and won the game possession-wise,” said FCD midfielder Jose Gamino. “We were able to tie the game, it was a good reaction.”
After hosting this weekend’s friendlies, the FC Dallas Academy teams will play visitor in some more international matches next month. The teams will travel to Madrid, Spain from March 15-23 to play against academy teams from Getafe, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and a fourth opponent to be determined. Stay tuned to FCDallas.com and FCDallasYouth.com for updates on both FC Dallas Academy teams.
READ: FCD U-18s beat Dynamo 2-1
READ: FCD U-16s fall to Santos on own goal 1-0
FC Dallas U-18 lineup: Landaruzi (Cortez 46’), Ambrose, Coleman, Rochowski, Hagan (Ramirez), Gamino, Guzman (Estrada), Robledo, Garcia, Perez (Soto), Pinal
Monterrey lineup: Cardenas, Llaves, Lopez, Siqueiros, Hernandez, Talancon, Guerra, Sifuentes, Gracia, Bricento, Madrigal
Scoring Summary:
Monterrey - Madrigal (10')
Monterrey- Bricento (17’)
FC Dallas - Pinal (56')
FC Dallas - Garcia (58')