FC Dallas fans have been accustomed to seeing Reto Ziegler play center back with the club since he arrived before the 2018 season. Sunday, however, he lined up at left back against LAFC in a 1-1 draw.

While Matt Hedges' 49th-minute red card meant Ziegler spent most of the second half as a center back, he showed his long background as a left back in the first half.

"I played that position for 10 years, but of course in my mind I'm more of a center back right now. You never lose it, though," Ziegler said. "I had that in my mind. I knew how to play it and so I had the training before the game to adapt and to get the mindset as a left back and had no issues on the field. I was feeling really, really good on the field. If he needs me in this position again I'll be ready."

The he is FC Dallas coach Luchi Gonzalez, who had few reservations about playing a the former Switzerland veteran at the position in which he lined up for the Swiss during the 2010 World Cup.

"If you look at the career he's had, it's been mostly at left back," Gonzalez said. "He showed that the other day -- good in distribution, good in support play moving the ball up the field. He had some great balls in behind, some through balls we were able to be dangerous with."

"He doesn't have to be a center back to lead and help this team be strong in the back line."

Building from within: Bryan Reynolds made his MLS debut Sunday, coming into the midfield in stoppage time. For the 17-year-old. who was signed after the 2016 season, it's a debut that has been a long time in coming.

While he initially thought a different player would enter the game as the third substitute, he soon realized the coaches were calling him over from the warmups.

"I was just thinking, if I go in there, I have to work as hard as I can. I'm 17. I have nothing to really lose," Reynolds said. "That was pretty much what was going through my head."

Gonzalez said the minutes Reynolds has accumulated with USL League One team North Texas SC were critical to preparing him for a strong first-team debut.

"North Texas is everything in terms of our young players' development. Instead of helping just a little, it's helped a lot. It's been something that has allowed Bryan to get consistent games, 90-minute games and adapt at that level and feel he's a developing player had feel he's not there for others to play for them that he's there to play for others, to make them better," he said.

"I know the minutes were few, but he made a great impact," the coach continued. "He made a very positive impact defensively and offensively in the game and shows a player that has a high ceiling that we're going to keep working with."

Reynolds has played five matches for North Texas so far this season. He said he'd love to make a debut FCD start in the near future but is happy making future cameos as well.

"Whatever minutes I get, that's what I get," he said.

Life without Hedges: After being shown a red card for denying LAFC attacker Carlos Vela an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, center back Matt Hedges will be suspended for Saturday's match.

Before seeing red Sunday, Hedges had played every minute of the season for FC Dallas and will be tough for FCD to replace while he serves his mandatory one-match ban.

"Matt's been a rock for us for years, long before I was here," said midfielder Jacori Hayes, who is in his third season with the club. "We're going to definitely miss his presence in the back, but it's just an opportunity for other guys to step up and show what they have."

The options include putting Ziegler and Bressan together and bringing Ryan Hollingshead back into the left-back slot or once again starting rookie John Nelson as left back. Fellow rookie Callum Montgomery also could debut with Ziegler again pushing to the left.

"Matt's really important on and off the field. He'll miss the trip, but we've had players missing every game," Gonzalez said. "Others have had to step up. That's the continued expectation of the group.

"You have Bressan, who has gotten some good opportunities in the past few games and he's coming into a moment where he's adjusted to the league. You have Reto and his leadership and veteran-ship. Those guys, along with others, will be ready to step up."