FC Dallas took on the New England Revolution today in FCD's first game of the 2018 Mobile Mini Sun Cup and came away with 2-2 draw. Mauro Diaz scored the first FCD goal on a rebound from a Maxi Urruti shot. Urruti scored the second goal with a tap-in earned from the hard work of new Dallas signing, Santiago Mosquera.

Let's break the game down... As usual, this breakdown is about FC Dallas, not the Revs so much.

FC Dallas 3-5-2

FCD started in a 3-5-2 with captain Matt Hedges missing. There is a bug going through the team, I've been told, and Hedges stayed at the team hotel. Mauro Diaz was also alleged to not be feeling well but he played the full 90. Here's the lineup.

FC Dallas' startring 3-5-2 versus the Revolution. (2-14-18) (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

As you can see Kris Reaves got the start at right center back. I asked FCD Head Coach Oscar Pareja after the game why Reaves got the nod over Jordan Cano, the other FCD rookie center back. Pareja says it was because Reaves is more of a right'ish kind of player. Cano has been playing centrally in a 3. So positional fit said it was Reaves.

Pareja also says he wants a flexible formation this year, one that is very fluid. We saw that today when FCD shifted to a 4-2-3-1 when Tesho Akindele subbed in. Here's what the Huntsmen looked like at that point. Mosquera had already subbed in for Ryan Hollingshead and Victor Ulloa was in for Carlos Gruezo.

FC Dallas after the shift to the 4-2-3-1 against the Revs. (2-14-18) (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

New England Revolution 4-4-1-1

You could call it a 4-5-1 if you want or a 4-4-2 even.

New England Revolution starting lineup vs Dallas. (2-14-18) (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

The Goals

1-0 FC Dallas scored first in the 15th minute. Mauro Diaz making the move into the middle of the box, so he's there to clean up the rebound off Urruti's shot. Michael Barrios and Urruti combined to create the initial opportunity. Here's the extended replay.

1-1 Revolution score first in the 2nd half. Nice finish by Penilla. You never want to let someone pick up a ball in that position.

2-1 FC Dallas retakes the lead in minute 77. Maxi Urruti with the goal but this one is all on brand new signing Santiago Mosquera. He makes a 70 yard run with the ball and makes a smart move in the box to free the middle and find Urruti.

Credit to Urruti and Diaz for making the full field run too. This was the first goal this spring by a senior roster forward not named Tesho Akindele.

2-2 Revs tie it up. FCD had a chance to clear it after the first block but didn't take the moment. Revs capitalize and grab the equalizer from sub Diego Fagundez.

The Game

Let's talk tactics. The 3-5-2 wasn't quite as effective today as it was against Cartaginés. I felt like Reggie Cannon was much more conservative going forward, probably due to the missing Hedges. Hollingshead also seemed reluctant to venture up as much early. In a 3-5-2 if you don't get width down the line from your wing-backs, the opposition can easily overload the sides. That was causing trouble for Dallas the first 25 minutes or so.

Urruti and Barrios did a fairly nice job sliding wide to cover up the Revs outside backs when New England had the ball. It's necessary to defend high like that or it's too easy to build out against the 3-5-2.

Another general complaint I have about the 3-5-2 for Dallas this season is that it makes them razor thin defensively. We saw that today with Hedges missing, a rookie homegrown had to take his place. And who are your back up wing-backs? Who's behind Cannon? Noah Franke, who may not make the team due to roster space? Granted right back depth is a problem in the 4 man back line too. But who's behind Hollingshead at left wing-back? Another rookie Amer Sasivarevic? Put Nedyalkov out there and it would mean another rookie center back, Jordan Cano, put in the fire.

The confidence level went up in the 4-2-3-1 later in the 2nd half. I really like the ability to slide between formations. I just think the roster isn't built for 3-5-2, it's built for 4-2-3-1 and it stretches real thin in the 3-5-2. There are a lot of high wing forwards on this team and the 3-5-2 doesn't use wing forwards.

Carlos Gruezo only played 27 minutes, which is something considering that 8 minutes into the game he got crushed in a straight red card tackle by Wilfried Zahibo. Gruezo tried to play through pain, waved to come off, played through it some more, and was finally subbed off for Victor Ulloa.

After the red card, Pareja gestured to Revolution Coach Brad Friedel and the 4th official to sub someone on so the game could be more useful to both teams in terms of season prep. It was later announced that tournament rules allow this, which they should since its preseason, but Zahibo will have to sit out the next game of the tourney.

Mauro Diaz looked like the Diaz of old today. He was in complete control of the midfield most of the game... except for the 15 minutes he drifted out of it in the 2nd half... which again is just like Diaz of old. When he switched back on he was fantastic. His body position today was really good, drawing fouls almost at will.

Jimmy Maurer I was mixed on today. His feet weren't great when FCD tried to play possession back to him, something they would do more of in a 3-5-2. He also dropped one cross, which I didn't like. But he stone cold stuffed Teal Bunbury point blank, that's was a real nice save.

Jesse Gonzalez took a little knock in training yesterday, was the word, and was held out as a precaution. He could have played.

Speaking of defense, FCD seems a little more content to let the other team have the ball this spring. There wasn't as much urgency to get it back again today it didn't seem. They were happy to let NE have it outside the defensive third.

Once Cannon and Hollingshead both got more comfortable as the game went along the possession got better for FCD. I think if they play in this formation for a run of games both wing-backs will really take steps forward in play.

Santiago Mosquera was terrific. I thought you could see him seeking out the game when he first came on. He drifted around a bit, making space, finding the ball... then he started making cutting runs with and without the ball. The 2nd goal was all him, and it was fantastic. He's a great fit for Pareja's offense. I'm trying not to get too excited.

Tesho Akindele's sub on for Barrios was the impetus for the swap to the 4-2-3-1. I wondered when Tesho was checking in if he can play wing-back. We quickly learned the answer to that, at least from the FCD coaches, was no. Tesho went to the right wing, and Mosquera, who to that point had been playing as a second forward with Urruti, moved to left wing. That's when FCD really started to cook.

Tesho himself though, I felt was a little out of sorts. I'm not sure why. He plays right wing all the time, maybe he was just trying to stay out of the way of the guys running the middle.

2nd half of the game, the FCD back 6 was almost completely lacking in MLS experience. It would have been nice if they could have held the lead. But honestly, what team in MLS could lose two starting holding mids (Acosta, Gruezo), a starting center back (Hedges), and a keeper (Gonzalez) and be fine? All things considered, it wasn't terrible. It could have been so much worse, honestly.

There's a reserve scrimmage scheduled for tomorrow. If the weather permits it to happen I should have a breakdown for you all afterward.