FC Dallas played their first scrimmage of the spring against another club on Wednesday, taking on local amateur side and US Open Cup heroes NTX Rayados. FCD ran out a completely different XI in each half and even played a few players in the Rayados side just to get some playing time for a few younger guys.

"The goal was to play someone different than ourselves so they are playing us differently than what we're planting in the inter-squad and having us show what we have worked on in terms of our build under high pressure," said FCD head coach Luchi Gonzalez afterward.

Let's break it down.

Line Ups and Tactics

FC Dallas played what I would call a 4-3-3. I'm not going to call

a 4-2-3-1 because it used a "single pivot" 6 player, as Coach Luchi Gonzalez likes to call it. A 'single pivot" is a deep 6 behind a clear 8 and a clear 10. Rather than Coach Oscar Pareja's "double pivot" with two 6s from last season.

1st Half

FC Dallas' first half lineup against NTX Rayados. (1-30-19) (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

Jacori Hayes played as a linking 8 between Brandon Servania, the 6, and Paxton Pomykal, working as a 10. All three players moved and shifted side to side across the midfield as needed so it shape often had a triangle like aspect. There for sure wasn't a right side, left side nature to how Pomykal and Hayes lined up.

There is some real flexibility and an organic nature to this system. It's fluid and dynamic with lots of interchanging in the 3 man midfield and it requires some soccer smarts in the middle. I asked coach Gonzalez about this shape and the freedom it gives his players as well as how empowered they seem to be in deciding where to be and when. Is this empowerment part of his philosophy?

"Absolutely. 6, 8, 10... 8 and 8. They are going to have moments where they rotate to cover defensively for each other, be balanced for each other. So we want to teach them the ability to do that, to be intelligent, because they're gonna be pulled out of position sometimes... how are they shifting to be organized. And then have flexibility, although we want the 6 to be for the most part in and around the center backs in the middle of the field for reference, the 8 and the 10 have a little more interchangeability in everything. And then if we're in a low block sometimes the 6 and the 8 have to be a double 6 and the 10 has to be at the top of the triangle." - Luchi Gonzalez

At the start of the 1st half; Sam Ebstein, Moises Hernandez, Kris Reaves, and Francis Atuahene were in the Rayados staring XI at holding mid, left back, left center back, and right wing respectively.

1st Half Changes

Callum Montgomery and Moises Hernandez swapped teams about halfway through the half, Montgomery moved to left center back, shifting Kris Reaves to left back for Rayados. Hernandez playing center back for FCD.

After a couple more minutes, Reaves subbed out for Rayados, and then back on for FC Dallas taking Bressan's spot in the back four.

After the first 30 minutes, Kyle Zobeck subbed in for Jimmy Maurer. Each keeper got 30 minutes total.

2nd Half

Almost the exact same formation, except that Ema Twumasi didn't play a 10 like Pomykal, instead it looked a lot more like two 8s with him in there even with Edwin Cerrillo. Coach Gonzalez confirmed this afterward.

2nd Half Changes

Thomas Roberts started the 2nd half playing as a #10 for Rayados. About 25 minutes he switched teams with Twumasi. Roberts played as a pure #10 like Pomykal did in the first half, Cerrillo begins working as a lone 8 like Hayes was.

At this same time Ryan Hollingshead and John Nelson swap wings, left for right.

Jesse Gonzalez came on for Zobeck and played the final 30 minutes in net.

Goals

1-0 FC Dallas. The Cobra Strikes! Lead pass from the right, from Jesus Ferreira, I believe, set up Ondrasek on the break. Initial shot is saved but the rebound is put away for the opening goal. This was the only goal of the 1st half.

2-0 FC Dallas. Matt Hedges heads down a cross from the right side. He was basically unmarked.

3-0 FC Dallas. Nice Dallas build up. Cerrillo to Twumasi to Mosquera... Mosquera beats his marker and plays a ball across the 6-yard box for Badji and the easy tap in.

4-0 FC Dallas. Edwin Cerrillo scores form the top of the box on a nice cut back pass from Michael Barrios who had driven in from the right wing and touchline.

5-0 FC Dallas. Handball by a Rayados defender in the box (stuck out the old chicken wing). Mosquera converts it.

Notes and Observations

Coach Gonzalez asked Rayados and FCD to both high press for the first 15 minutes of each half. The mostly younger FCD defense of the first half dealt with it fairly well, I was pleased to see.

"I asked them to high press us for the first 15 to 20 minutes of each half... so I wanted us to deal with that and I felt we showed some good solutions. And also for us to high press them, kind of reverse it and put it on them and I felt like we created some good opportunities. Two of our four goals were transition goals, ball recovery. And so I think the goal was completed in terms of trying the concepts."

1st Half

- Paxton Pomykal as a 10 to start with Pablo Aranguiz as a false wing was interesting. He and Aranguiz did swap for a time. It's early in the spring, but Pomykal seems to be getting his wish and a shot at the 10-spot. He had a TON of freedom in this shape and was running the show. Frankly, Pomykal looked great. Really active and sharp. In fact, he was the 2nd sharpest Dallas player in the first half behind...

- Brandon Servania was my 1st half Man of the Match. He was immense. Really impressive range playing as the loan 6. Just fantastic. Carrying over his amazing Concacaf U20s Best XI showing as did Pomykal.

- Outside of those two, a lot of rust to be seen in my book. But hey, we're a week into camp, it's to be expected. The team did have a morning session as well, so a little leeway is in order.

- The wings were really quite static today, no fluidity and movement relative to the midfield. Coach Gonzalez says FCD hasn't gotten to the final third part of their spring work yet. So far it's been working from back to front and they've done the backs and midfield. They should get into the front line and final third actions this week.

- Callum Montgomery instant scouting report (just add water): He's quite tall but moves really well. Plays up on his toes and has bags of range. Solid passing but not as sharp with the ball at his feet when he has to dribble. Had one misstep against the press and got caught in possession but his teammates covered up well. Lots of tools, needs polishing. But I can see what FCD liked.

- Bressan looked like a competent professional defender... who just got here. He didn't have to do a lot and didn't get stretched or anything. I really need to see more than 20 minutes of playing time for judgment.

- There was one free kick in a dangerous spot for a shot on goal. Pablo Aranguiz took it but shot over the top. An early sign he might be in the mix on free kicks? We'll see.

- Francis Atuahene really struggled to find the game playing on the Rayados side. Tough outing but I'm gonna put most of it on his playing for Rayados.

- Jacori Hayes struggled a bit in possession in this one. He seemed uncomfortable as an 8.

- This was the first time I've personally seen Moises Hernandez play left back since he re-signed with FCD. Even in training.

- Zdenek Ondrasek instant scouting report (just add water): Strong, determined, eager. Not showing breakaway speed. He did score the one goal on a lead run out pass. Came really close to getting a couple more but is just a step out of timing with this teammates still. Has a nose to be in the right place and makes good runs. Touch was a bit heavier than I'd like to see. He does play some high defense but isn't relentless like Maxi Urruti was. He chooses his time more carefully to pounce. He also had a PK atempt saved right before halftime.

- Sam Ebstein instant scouting report (just add water): Serviceable job as a holding mid, passed fairly well and comfortable with the ball but not flashy. Workmanlike performance. Range and pace ok. He too was trying to figure out how to play in the Rayados team.

2nd Half

Santiago Mosquera looks to swtich the play against NTX Rayados. (1-30-19) (3rd Degree / Buzz Carrick)

- 2nd half Man of the Match: Santiago Mosquera. He was dangerous the entire time, Rayados had no answer for him. Really dynamic and ripping past people. Great showing.

- Carlos Gruezo was much more static and stay at home than Servania. Playing it safe as the lone holder perhaps? He did get a little annoyed as the game went on and came out of his shell. After that, he was really dominate in the middle with a bit more range and a ton of bite.

- Edwin Cerrillo doesn't look like a rookie. Did a really nice job as an 8, although I still think a 6 is his best role as his career progresses. Scored a goal and had one called back offside before that. I hear his deal is done, no idea why it's not been announced.

- Reto Ziegler and Matt Hedges picked up right where they left off. Looked good.

- Same for Michael Barrios and Dom Badji. Looks just like last year. Badji made a good run and clean finish for his goal. Barrios was also a handful for Rayados, not surprisingly.

- John Nelson instant scouting report (just add water): Good pace, could run with anyone. Played just as well on the right as the left. Not real tall, but has a bulldogged style. Worked hard all half. Very direct getting forward and hit a nice cross. Was much more hesitant to venture on the right than he was on the left, although may been him getting comfortable with the game as much as the side he was on. No sign of nerves.

- Thomas Roberts continues to be an absolute joy to watch. I really am trying not to go all hype-rocket on this kid. Great touch, vision, and passing weight. Showing some range and pace. He's got a fair bit to learn about impacting the game and dictating in the final third, even compared to Pomykal. Playing for Rayados, his ability to relieve pressure when they won a ball, and beat a couple FCD players, was impressive. He doesn't look 17. He's going to play a whole bunch for North Texas this year to start with... I just don't know how long he's going to be in Dallas. Someone is gonna pay a bunch of money for this kid, I think. Probably Bayern.

- Ema Twumasi as an 8 was ok, I don't love him in there. I like him out wide as he's such a direct kind of player. I want to see him running at people. Like Atuahene he struggled to find the game when playing with Rayados as a wing, but again, that's probably more about being with the amateur team than it is him.

- Not much to say about any keepers. They all three had to do some passing of the ball in the back, but not much more than normal I would say. Jesse Gonzalez was noticeably more vocal than in the past.

Next Game

That's it for today, FC Dallas plays again this weekend with an intersquad scrimmage and then a game against Houston Baptist. We'll be back with another report.

Santiago Mosquera takes on NTX Rayados. (1-30-19) (3rd Degree / Buzz Carrick)