FRISCO, Texas (Monday, Sept. 30) – FC Dallas Reserves (4-7-1, 13 points) took an early lead on a goal scored by Homegrown player Danny Garcia, but the Columbus Crew Reserves (6-6-2, 20 points) roared back, scoring three unanswered goals to win, 3-1, on Field 1 at Toyota Soccer Center today.
Both teams traded long periods of possession to start the match but neither could create a shot on goal until the 27th minute, when Columbus won a free kick opportunity 30 yards from goal. Defender Kyle Hyland lobbed a quality cross to the back post that was knocked down but collected by FC Dallas goalkeeper Kyle Zobeck.
The Valparaiso product immediately sprang FC Dallas on the counter-attack with a long outlet throw to Jair Benitez on the left flank. Benitez crossed midfield and knocked a hard pass in to the feet of target forward Eric Hassli. The Frenchman hit a first-touch pass to Kenny Cooper, who attempted to move by his defender but the ball was knocked away. Columbus momentarily claimed possession but Cooper stayed with the ball and managed to deflect a clearance attempt to the feet of a late-arriving Garcia. Dallas’ 11th Homegrown signing collected the ball on the left side of the area and put the home side up 1-0 with a sharp pass into the far side netting.
Garcia helped set up a chance for FC Dallas to take a 2-0 lead in the 37th minute, when he slid a ball outside to an overlapping London Woodberry. FC Dallas’ right back crossed a well-placed ball in to the near post for Cooper, but the Jesuit product was knocked to the turf by a Columbus defender before he could make a play on the ball. Referee Chris Mercado pointed to the spot, where Peter Luccin would take the penalty kick, but Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum came up with a quality save to his right side to keep the deficit at a single goal.
Columbus evened the score, 1-1, just four minutes into the second half. The play started with a short corner played to Ben Speas, who walked down the endline, eluded an FC Dallas defender and played a nice pass to the feet of Ryan Finley. The quick pass gave Zobeck no time to react and Finley finished easily with a line-drive shot into the right side of the net.
Zobeck made two big saves to keep the match level between the 50th and 63rd minutes. The best was a point-blank save on Aaron Schoenfield in the 55th minute after a loose ball fell to the feet of the striker, 12 yards away from goal. Schoenfield attempted to pick out the far side netting but Zobeck got his right hand to the ball to keep it out of the back of the net.
Woodberry make an athletic play to save a ball off the end line for FC Dallas in the 64th minute. The right back recovered to head a hard shot over the crossbar and out for a goal kick, but in doing so collided with Zobeck and was forced to leave the game with an injury.
Columbus took a 2-1 lead in the 70th minute off a set piece, played to the back post from 35 yards out by Hyland. Finley got on the end of the serve at the back post and managed to slip a hard, first-time volley between Zobeck and the near post.
Columbus made it a 3-1 game in the 85th minute when Aaron Horton stole a ball deep in Dallas’ defensive third of the field, made a move around a defender and finished low to the left side of Zobeck.
FC Dallas continued to press for a second goal and should have had one in stoppage time. Cooper knocked a textbook header towards the top right corner of the net following a cross played in from the left flank, but Gruenebaum insisted on the 3-1 scoreline and made an outstanding right-handed save at full stretch to tip the shot over the crossbar.
Columbus Crew Reserves 3 - FC Dallas Reserves 1
Referee: Chris Mercado
Referee’s Assistants: William Tomlinson, Tom Hartlett
4th Official: Elie Aguilar
Weather: Sunny, 80 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
DAL – Danny Garcia (unassisted) 27'
CLB – Ryan Finley (Ben Speas) 49'
CLB – Ryan Finley (Kyle Hyland) 70'
CLB – Aaron Horton (unassisted) 85'
LINEUPS
FC Dallas Reserves: Kyle Zobeck, Jair Benitez (Wilfred Williams* 57'), Stephen Keel, Walker Zimmerman (Ethan Sonis* 59), London Woodberry (Diego De La Tejera* 64'), Victor Ulloa, Peter Luccin (Michel 53'), Danny Garcia, Ramon Nunez (Troy Reeves* 84'), Eric Hassli, Kenny Cooper.
Substitutes Not Used: Jesse Gonzalez, Alex Radilla.
Columbus Crew Reserves: Andy Gruenebaum, Josh Williams (Konrad Warzycha, 71'), Eric Gehrig, Drew Beckie, Kyle Hyland, Kevan George, Ben Speas, Justin Meram, Ethan Finlay (Aaron Horton 57), Ryan Finley (Omar Mohamed 84), Aaron Schoenfield (Matt Gold^ 82).
Substitutes Not Used: Brad Stuver.
* Indicates Academy Player
^ Indicates Guest Player
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
None
