FC Dallas’ Reserves to face San Antonio tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Three defenders score for FC Dallas

Carlos Gruezo assists on first FC Dallas goal of the match

Four former FC Dallas Academy players see time in preseason friendly

FRISCO – FC Dallas defeated CS Cartagines, 3-1, today at Toyota Stadium.

Defenders Ryan Hollingshead, Matt Hedges and Reto Ziegler scored for FC Dallas while Cartagines’ Dylan Flores converted a penalty kick in the 44th minute.

Hedges stepped into the offensive third of the pitch to win the ball back for FC Dallas in the fifth minute of the match. He quickly passed the ball to Mauro Diaz, who faked a shot, dribbled past a defender and fired a shot towards the upper corner of the net. Fortunately for Cartagines, goalkeeper Luis Rivas dove high to his right side to slap away the attempt and keep the score tied, 0-0.

One-minute later, Reggie Cannon came up the right flank from his position at right back and was rewarded, when a loose ball fell to him at the top corner of the area. Cannon had Rivas beat, but Cartagines defender Itevin Vega slid in at the last second to deflect the shot over the crossbar.

Cartagines nearly went up a goal in the 23rd minute on a set piece that was played across the box by Flores. The cross found streaking defender Joan Arley, but his headed shot sailed just wide of the post to FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez’s left side.

FC Dallas answered in the 26th minute. Again, Hedges won the ball and got it to the feet of Diaz. Dallas’ No. 10 pushed a ball into space, where Tesho Akindele could collect the pass and walk in on Cartagines’ Rivas. Akindele chose to fire a shot towards the near post, but his attempt hit the outside of the goal, inches wide of the post.

FC Dallas took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute, when Diaz sprang Cannon down the right flank. Cannon dodged a slide-tackle attempt before centering a pass to Carlos Gruezo. The Ecuadorian then used a first-touch pass to put left back, Hollingshead in on goal. The 2017 MLS Humanitarian of the Year finished well, sliding a shot under Rivas and into the far corner of the net.

Cartagines was awarded a penalty kick in the 44th minute, when defender Anton Nedyalkov was whistled for a hand ball in the box. Flores stepped up to take the penalty for Cartagines, firing a hard shot to the left of Gonzalez to make it, 1-1.

Jacori Hayes earned a free kick for FC Dallas, just outside the area in the 64th minute. Diaz opted for a quick restart, playing a ball to substitute, Michael Barrios. Dallas’ leading assist man in 2017, Barrios snuck a short pass across the face of goal, where defender Matt Hedges pounced on the loose ball to score his second goal of the preseason.

Fellow centerback, Ziegler also found the back of the net in the 76th minute. The Swiss defender found himself in space next to the near post on a FC Dallas corner kick. From a difficult angle, Ziegler smacked a hard shot off the bottom of the bar to beat Rivas and put FCD ahead, 3-1.

Scoring Summary:

DAL: Ryan Hollingshead (Carlos Gruezo) 34

CAR: Dylan Flores (PK) 44

DAL: Matt Hedges 64

DAL: Reto Ziegler 76

Lineups:

FC Dallas – Jesse Gonzalez, Reggie Cannon, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Anton Nedyalkov, Jacori Hayes (Victor Ulloa 80), Carlos Gruezo, Ryan Hollingshead, Mauro Diaz, Tesho Akindele (Michael Barrios 46), Maxi Urruti (Jesus Ferreira 80).

Substitutes not used: Maynor Figueroa, Kris Reaves, Paxton Pomykal, Brandon Servania, Ema Twumasi.

CS Cartagines – Luis Rivas (Yonathan Chavez 86), Joan Arley (Paolo Jiminez 46), Randall Alvarado, Jameson Scott (Sadier Camacho 87), Itevin Vega (Randall Cordero 84), Danny Fonseca (Verny Ramirez 46), Ricardo Blanco (Gustavo Diaz 75), Christopher Nunez (Nestor Monge 46), Dylan Flores, Hernan Ferner (Randall Brenes 59), Gio Clunie (Johnny Woodly 69).

Misconduct Summary:

CAR: Gio Clunie (caution) 55

CAR: Nestor Monge (caution) 75

Referee: Jorge Luna

Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Adam Garner

4th Official: Lorenzo Hernandez

Weather: Cloudy, 31