On Wednesday, I stayed in Frisco long after the morning FC Dallas session to take in what, on the schedule, was an afternoon training session. Originally scheduled for 4:30 pm it was pushed back to 5.

Much to my delight, upon arrival I discovered the session was, in fact, a scrimmage between North Texas SC and the FC Dallas U19 team. I had originally planned just to add a few notes to my FC Dallas Practice Observations, but since it was a whole game I thought it worth a post of its own.

The game consisted of three 30 minute periods. North Texas SC won 2-0.

News and Stuff

The Haitian trio has finally arrived: Ronaldo Damus and Bicou Bissainthe - who are both signed to North Texas SC - plus Valdo Etienne - who has joined the FCD Academy U19s.

Still no sign of the other loanee from MFK Vyskov, Abdoul Gaffar Ibrahim. Without getting political, getting into the country is taking longer these days so it's not a surprise he's not here as he was added later.

Here's a list of trialists who were on the North Texas SC preseason roster that are no longer trying out: Thierry-Allen Assamoi, Mariano Fazio, Juan 'Charly' Flores, Flavio Guzman, Juan Herrera, Joel Martinez, Jose Olaya, Anthony Powell, Charles Renken, Chase Therrien, and Riley Unger.

One new trialist in goal for NTXSC in half #3 is Kyle Parks, brother of Keaton Parks of NYCFC. Kyle played at Harvard and may have been on the books at Trofense in the Portuguese 3rd division most recently.

Luiyi Mosquera who is listed on the NTXSC preseason roster is apparently related to FCD's Santiago Mosquera. A cousin I think. He may have just got to town was the word on the sideline. So not sure if he's had any training with the club yet.

Dante Sealy is back in town and training/playing with North Texas. Which is where he will be this season.

Nice article about Anthony Bardon on the FC Dallas website. He's not here for this game and it a bit older than might be the norm for HTX. But he's got a lot of experience and leadership. If he makes the team it will be that latter aspect that gets him in.

Alex Radilla doesn't play in this one either, but I'm told he's still on trial.

Lineups, Notes, and Observations

Period 1

North Texas SC and FCD U19 lineups for period 1. (3-6-19) (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

Alfusainey Jatta is a seriously fantastic find. This kid has got all the tools. Pro quality feet, ridiculous range, massive size. He's already getting the nickname Fake Pogba and that's not an exaggeration. I'm ready to project him not only as future MLS level, perhaps quickly, but maybe beyond that.

Alfusainey Jatta of North Texas SC (in grey) fights off Ricardo Pepi playing for the FCD U19s. (3-6-19( (Garrett Melcer / North Texas SC)

Ricardo Pepi only plays about 15 minutes for the U19s before being replaced by Johan Gomez. I assume that Gomez was a late arrival with Pepi just filling in.

Imanol Almaguer knocked my socks off. In the first half, he was the only Academy player with NTXSC who I didn't recognize. Once he went back to the u19s and put on his #2 I was floored. Almaguer has always been a solid outside back. Today he played as a central linking type mid... and was amazing. Great feet, great awareness, quick to turn out of danger, great at linking with teammates. What a transformation. I need to dig into which coach made this change with Almaguer.

Tanner Tessmann, one of three other U19s who played for NTX, is usually a 10 or winger, today was playing as a 9. That's new.

Julian Hinojosa and Kevin Bonilla are both U19s outside backs usually. Hinojosa is heading to UNC. Bonilla is a year younger and could be a pro signing at some point.

Cesar Murillo out of the College of Charleston and is a former FCD Academy player from El Paso originally, starts at center back for NTX and later plays right back. That's some good versatility that could be squad useful to a D3 coach.

The U19s are in a bit of rebuild mode because of the professional signings and the players spending the bulk of their time training as amateurs with North Texas. Kevin Kim, for example, is more often an FCD Premier player. There were a couple of players with numbers I didn't know, #20 at left back, for example, is listed on the roster as the new guy Valdo Etienne, but was most definitely someone else.

Oscar Romero scored the goal for NTX.

1-0 Ntxsc. Sealy carrirs 30 yards from the wing at MF to middle above the box. Lays off for Romero on overlap who scores to the right post. — 3rd Degree (@3rdDegreeNet) March 6, 2019

Period 2

North Texas SC and FCD U19 lineups for period 2. (3-6-19) (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

Ronaldo Damus looks even faster than last year. He graduated from the FCD Academy in May and I haven't seen him play since then.

I'm also seeing Bicou Bissainthe for the first time. I didn't see him on the ball enough to get much of an impression. Frankly, he looks like a guy who got here today.

Angel Enrique Elvira Paita continues to hang around playing left back. He's got a sublime left foot but may not be fast enough in the end.

"Pollo" Cortes still sticking around. You may recall he was FCD's 3rd keeper a few seasons ago and has played for NTX Rayados since.

Valdo Etienne checks into the game for the 19s wearing Ricardo Pepi's #39 jersey. He's listed as no. 20 on the U19 roster but seems to not have a shirt. He was the 3rd player in that odd Haitian press conference and is joining the Academy apparently.

Arturo Rodriguez scores the 2nd NTX goal. 2-0.

Period 3

North Texas SC and FCD U19 lineups for period 3. (3-6-19) (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

This is where is starts to get sketchy with the U19s, for my reporting at least. There are multiple players wearing numbers that don't match the 19's roster. The left-back #42, the center back #20 (same guy played left back earlier I think), the right back #19, and center forward #17 all remain unknown to me at this time.

One guy is playing right wing with no number at all for the 19s, just a red sweatshirt. He even had on different white socks than the navy blue of the rest of the Academy. I'd like to find out who he is because I liked him fair a bit.

Joel Bustamante looks like he's becoming a bit of a leader with this new version of the U19s. Doing a lot of talking and communicating, playing key roles.

Lucio Martinez, of NTX Rayados, is also still here as an NTXSC trialist. He's got a little something and has an outside shot of making it I think.

This is the first 11v11 action for Mauro Cichero since he blew out his ACL in Oct of 2017 at SMU. He's had some setbacks and is going to need some patience and work to recover his career.

Mohamed Sesay on looking just like he always does. Bags and bags of pace.

Gibran Rayo, an FC Dallas u19 that I think is North Texas signing material at some point, gets into the action for NTXSC after playing for the Academy earlier in the game.

As does Johan Gomez who has committed to the University of Portland. He's another guy who has NTX potential as an amateur this year and maybe a signing at some point. 12 goals in 15 games for the U19s.

Kyle Parks, who mentioned above plays, goalie for NTX in this section.