FCD blanks Comunicaciones in friendly
Sala records clean sheet in return from injury for FC Dallas
"I thought it was a great opportunity for us to play a game where we could get some players on the field that haven't been on the field for a while," FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "Today we went with a flat 4-4-2 to see how Bruno (Guarda) and Dax (McCarty) could handle the midfield and asked David (Ferreira) to be a second striker."
The FCD coach admits his club was at their best in the opening half.
"I thought we looked pretty good in the first half," Hyndman said. "We moved the ball well and created a lot of scoring opportunities. We didn't get the finishing in like we wanted to. They were a team that was out of sync and didn't connect a lot. We were a team that moved the ball well enough to get more goals but just didn't finish."
Hyndman fielded a first 11 that included seven players who started a 1-0 loss at Colorado on Saturday night. The biggest story for the home side was the return of goalkeeper Dario Sala, who was seeing his first action since April 25 at Chivas USA.
For most of the season, the veteran 'keeper has been bothered by nagging knee injuries and Ray Burse has started between the posts for FCD. Sala was mostly untested in the opening 45 minutes but did have to save a shot by Comunicaciones midfielder Abner Trigueros in the 17th minute, sending it high over the goal. Sala played the entire 90 minutes.
Other new starters for the home club were Steve Purdy at right back, Torres on the left side and Bruno Guarda in the midfield.
At the break, FCD had outshot their Central American opposition by a 14-3 margin and finished the night with a 20-5 edge in shots. The home attack was active early and often, culminating in the 19th minute goal by Torres.
Dave van den Bergh delivered a picture perfect corner from the far flag to Torres, who was left unmarked just inside the 6-yard box. Torres headed the ball into the top middle of the net for the goal.
"It's always good to be back on the field," Torres said. "Honestly, I haven't scored a goal in a long time and it feels great. It gives me confidence for what is coming. I think I needed that to work on my game fitness. I know it's going to take a while and demand a lot of work, but I'm going to get there. I hope to be available to play for the Real Salt Lake game and from then on, try and stay fit for the rest of the season."
The match was extra special for Torres considering that he got to see fellow Costa Rican Rolando Fonseca, who is against the Comunicaciones captain.
"We shared a little bit," Torres said. "He's a really nice guy and is a believer as well, so we have a lot in common. There's a lot to talk about. It's sad that we don't have a chance to spend more time together. But at the same time, it was good to see him, good to play against him a little bit and remember the old times."
FCD striker Jeff Cunningham had several good chances to add to his club's lead in the opening half but none of those opportunities materialized into goals. In the 30th, the veteran striker got a great feed from David Ferreira but missed wide right.
And in the 38th, Cunningham got a considerable amount of space on the left flank and dashed towards goal. However, Comunicaciones 'keeper David Guerra came off his line at exactly the right time and was able to stop Cunningham's charge as his shot hit Guerra right in the midsection.
Hyndman made three changes to his lineup to begin the second half. Cunningham came off for young forward Brek Shea. Blake Wagner came on for center back Kyle Davies and then switched spots with Torres, moving to the left flank while Avila was in for Andre Rocha at right midfield.
In the 53rd minute, FCD got another breakaway when Ferreira had a one-on-one chance with Guerra. The Colombian's aspirations were thwarted when Guerra was able to get a leg on Ferreira's shot and the match remained 1-0.
One of Comunicaciones' few chances of the second half came in the 69th minute after a ball into the box was cleared over the endline. Dwight Pezzarossi took the corner for the visitors but his effort was short and quickly cleared away by FCD. The visitors had another chance in the 73rd when a shot by Edgar Cotto sailed high over Sala.
Hyndman went to his bench twice more. In the 66th, Anthony Wallace came on for van den Bergh and eight minutes later, normal starting right back Drew Moor entered the proceedings for Purdy.
With less than 15 minutes left, each club had a player sent off. FCD's Dax McCarty and Comunicaciones' Fredy Thompson were both sent to the showers after a brief fracas.
Avila's goal came after some great ball movement by the home club. The play started with Shea, who dashed up the left flank. The big forward then laid the ball off to Ferreira, who quickly slotted a nice pass to Avila on the right flank. The second-year midfielder then banged one into the left side of the net for the goal.
"It was good that Brek took it down the line," Avila said. "I was a bit far back and had to make the run. As soon as he took off, I knew I had to do that. I made my run and it paid off. David (Ferreira) saw me and he played me through. As soon as I got it, I touched it, saw the 'keeper come out and placed it."
FCD returns to league play on Friday, July 24 at Real Salt Lake.
Steve Hunt is contributor to MLSnet.com.
