As the host club of the Dallas Cup, FC Dallas' U19 Academy side was given the privilege of opening up the tournament in the Cotton Bowl tripleheader, this year against Spanish side Villarreal CF. With a few players missing due to signing with FC Dallas or playing last night with North Texas SC, the FCD side came up a bit short against the "Yellow Submarine" of Villarreal, falling 3-1.

Wide-mid Jorge Galdón scored a brace for Villarreal, both goals coming off of bad passing mistakes by FC Dallas out of the back and in midfield. Both times Galdón made a run from the wide spot into a vacated area as Dallas attempted to rotate and cover in the back. Gonzaga Delage added a PK goal for Villarreal in injury time to make the scoreline even more lopsided.

Dallas was able to tie the game at 1 just before halftime. FCD playmaker Tanner Tessmann hitting a trademark 28-yard bomb after running right up the middle of the Villarreal midfield. Tessmann was one of the bright spots for FCD on the day.

The Breakdown

Let's be honest, this FCD team has been a bit gutted of talent of late. Edwin Cerrillo, their starting 6 until he signed as a Homegrown, is a massive, game-controlling, missing piece in midfield. Thomas Roberts has played a few with this U19 team during the 2018-19 season but never trains with them as he's been with FC Dallas.

Bryan Reynolds and Ricardo Pepi - who was a U17 but is registered with the 19s for the Dallas Cup - both played 90 minutes for North Texas Saturday night so didn't play in this one. Gibran Rayo, usually a U19 starter, was on the bench as he too played for NTXSC. Dante Sealy, also a U19 starter until he signed as a Homegrown and joined North Texas, was another playing missing in this game after playing for North Texas.

North Texas has next weekend off so the 19s should have more talent at their disposal going forward.

Tactics

FC Dallas in the usual 4-3-3 of the Luchi Gonzalez era. This version with a deep 6, a linking 8, and a 10.

The FC Dallas U19s starting XI vs Villarreal in the 2019 Dallas Cup (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

About 2/3s of the way through the first half, Bonilla and Etienne swapped sides. They stayed that way until Hinojosa, a natural left back, subbed on for Etienne late in the game. FCD made several other changes in the 2nd half, Beni Redzic for Bustamente, Gibran Rayo for Roberts, Jesus Sosa for Gomez, and Chris Fuentes for Hernandez.

Villarreal started in a 4-4-2 but late in the game switched to a 4-5-1 type formation.

The Villarreal CF starting XI against FC Dallas in the 2019 Dallas Cup. (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

VCF made a bunch of changes in the 2nd half, I'm not going to bother running through them all.

Goals

1-0 Villarreal Goal. 6th minute. A bad pass out of the back by Etienne results in a turnover, two quick passes later and Jorge Galdón cleanly finishes.

1-1 FC Dallas Goal. 43rd minute. FC Dallas picks up a loose ball in midfield and works it to Tanner Tessmann. Tessmann turns and makes a 10-yard sprint with the ball into the midfield gap then rips a blast from 28 yards out. A really nice goal.

2-1 Villarreal Goal. 50th minute. Another turnover, this one in midfield, springs Villarreal who again work it wide, this time to the right, where Jorge Galdón awaits and blasts another goal.

3-1 Villarreal Goal. 90+ minute. A Judson Burn foul gives a PK. Gonzaga Delage buries the penalty for the goal.

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 14: Gonzaga Delage celebrates his goal during the Dallas Cup Super Group soccer game between FC Dallas (USA) and Villareal (Spain) on April 14, 2019 at The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky) (Matthew Visinsky / Dallas Cup)

A Few Thought and Observations

Tanner Tessmann was the FCD Man of the Match for me. He was terrific, creating chances, taking on players. His goal was a Tessman trademark long-range blast. He's got a real knack for the deep ball.

Thomas Roberts had flashes of skill but didn't have a Chris-Cappis-like dominating presence. He frankly looked like a player who started in MLS a week ago and wonders what he's doing here. FCD needed him to control the game and he didn't. Perhaps that was a product of playing on the wing rather than as a 10? Hard to say. He did hit a sweet free kick that pinged off the post.

With Edwin Cerrillo - who was in this team, but now is starting for FCD - the Dallas midfield was overmatched. Both Luis Hernandez and Imanol Almaguer are learning new roles. They just didn't have enough for Villarreal.

Johan Gomez - who is an in the box goal poacher - was mostly ineffective. There weren't nearly enough balls played into him in dangerous positions for him to do anything. He's a player that needs service and it wasn't there today.

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 14: Kevin Bonilla of FC Dallas prepares to take on a Villarreal defender during the Dallas Cup Super Group soccer game between FC Dallas (USA) and Villareal (Spain) on April 14, 2019 at The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky) (Matthew Visinsky / Dallas Cup)

Kevin Bonilla

continues to impress me at both

and left back. As a natural righty, I like him better on that side, but his versatility is impressive.

Next Game

The FCD U19s play again tomorrow as they try to climb back into the race to advance in this tournament. It's a 6 pm kickoff against Queretaro on MoneyGram Park #05. It's a game of now massive importance for FCD.