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February 21, 2010
FCD LAYS EGG AGAINST FIU
Golden Panthers get best of Dallas, 1-0
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Eric Avila had a good look at the goal after a nice pass from Marvin Chavez, but the Florida International University goalie was up to the task of stopping his shot.
Photo by Michael Stephens |
Is FC Dallas getting bored playing scrimmages against college teams? Perhaps. But Saturday, Florida International University probably got the Dallas players and coaches’ attention by blanking the pro team 1-0 in an Orlando, Florida scrimmage.
The match, played under beautiful, Orlando skies with temps in the ‘70’s, favored the locals as Dallas played with a team dominated by rookies and trialists, though not completely. Players not on the field were spending time individually with the team’s fitness coach Stu Carlisle, according to the FCD blog.
Dallas basically controlled the action in the scrimmage, with plenty of opportunities for scoring. It could have ended in a 0-0 tie, but the Golden Panthers capitalized on a fortuitous rebound on a shot following a corner kick that caromed right back to a shooter, who scored on the put-back in the 82nd minute past Sean Kelley, trialist at goalie.
Dallas’ Bryan Leyva got a workout dishing out a number of corner kicks in the first half, but the Dallas players could only find the goalkeeper, not the net. Marvin Chavez blew past defenders to manufacture some space with his “son-of-the-wind” speed and fired a shot in stride that was snared by the ‘keeper.
Chavez bedazzled the Panther defense again, but passed off to teammate Eric Avila for the shot. However, Avila didn’t surprise the goalie, who was up to stopping the ball again. Earlier, rookie Eric Alexander tried a boomer from 30 yards that moved just wide of the post.
Ruben Luna, who ripped up Central Florida the day before, hit the post in a near-score in the second half. Time was running short in the 88th minute when Luna headed a corner kick that found trialist Misho Fahim inside the box. Fahim slid on to the ball, but sent it over the goal.
Tuesday, Dallas will surely look to its regulars more, because the scrimmage will be against the New England Revolution at 10:00 a.m. This will be the first non-college game this preseason for the Red Stripes. It will help warm up FCD for the ESPN Wide World of Sports Walt Disney Pro Soccer Classic, kicking off February 25 against Toronto FC at 8:30 p.m. in the feature match. Earlier, at 6 p.m., the Houston Dynamo faces the New York Red Bulls. Losers and winners will play each other two days later.
FC Dallas lineup:
Josh Lambo (Sean Kelley 46), Jair Benitez (Dane Saintus 70), George John (Steve Purdy 60), Ugo Ihemelu (Kyle Davies 60), Zach Loyd (Misho Fahim 70), Anthony Wallace (Edson Edwards 56), Eric Alexander, Bryan Leyva (Eric Avila 46), Bruno Guarda (Marvin Chavez 46), Duke Hashimoto (Ruben Luna 46), Atiba Harris (Brek Shea 46)
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