The Dallas Sidekicks won their first home game of the 2018-2019 MASL season, beating the El Paso Coyotes, 7-4, as they overcame an early deficit and a determined visiting squad to even their record and move back into a tie for second place in the Southwest Division.

It was definitely uneasy early for the hosts as the Coyotes (0-2) scored the first two goals of the match before Dallas (2-2) worked their way back into the game. But after a fabulous pass from Richardinho to Cody Ellis on the back post ended up in the roof of the El Paso net to tie it at two in the second, the Sidekicks controlled much of the rest of the game and out worked and outlasted the Coyotes the rest of the way.

The home opener started off poorly for the Sidekicks as they gave up the first goal mere moments into the game. Omar Tapia scored off a breakaway after only 1:26 had been played. Juan Gamboa was then called for handling outside the box, leading to a man advantage for El Paso. Jorge Rios eventually scored to give the Coyotes a 2-0 lead 7:26 into the game. The Sidekicks were outshot in the period, 13-4.

It wasn't until 9:12 had been played that Dallas got their first real dangerous chance via Jamie Lovegrove, but soon thereafter got on the scoresheet thanks to Cameron Brown within the minute.

The second period started a lot brighter for the Sidekicks as a good pass freed Mychael Jones up the right side where he was boarded by Diego Salas in the first minute of the frame, leading to a power play for Dallas. While they were not able to convert the advantage into a goal, a fantastic diagonal through pass from Ricardinho to Cody Ellis, who one-timed the ball into the roof of the net, tied the game at 9:50.

That led to a significant momentum shift as the home team seemed to take a lot of confidence. VcMor Eligwe fed TJ Nelson for a great chance moments before working a fantastic quick series with Lovegrove in the penalty area that Lovegrove put home for the team's first lead of the game at 6:42. It was a lead they would not relinquish.

The team continued to buzz throughout the period on both ends of the field, quickly snuffing out the few chances the Coyotes created. The period ended with a goal that crossed the line just after the horn sounded and did not count.

The momentum continued for the Sidekicks as they scored less than a minute after the start of the second half to take a lead they would not relinquish as Nelson finished an aggressive press in El Paso's third 44 seconds in. The game settled in for much of the period until, against the run of play, El Paso scored through Jose Moreno off an assist from Hugo Puente to make things tighter 8:36 into the third.

But Dallas took control of the match for good when Rios was called for tripping in their penalty area and Lovegrove converted the penalty at 11:59 to make it 5-3. And after Gamboa made a key save on a Coyote shot from inside the penalty area, Lovegrove scored 5:00 into the final period off a strong individual effort to remove any doubt.

Jamie Lovegrove converts a penalty against EL Paso during the 2018-19 Dallas Sidekicks hope opener. (12/15/18) (Craig Marcho (@CMARCHO) / 3rd Degree)

Eligwe scored off a feed from Ricardinho 10 minutes into the fourth and Puente scored for El Paso via a Salas pass at 11:23 to finish the scoring for the game. To add insult to injury for the visitors, Rios was ejected for receiving his third card of the game at the 11:00 mark.

The Sidekicks came into the game on a two-game losing streak after starting the year with three road games. The Coyotes' only result before Saturday was an 8-3 loss to the Monterrey Flash. With this result, the Sidekicks moved into a tie with the Rio Grande Valley Barracudas for second place in the Southwest Division.