FC Dallas Defeat Oklahoma Energy FC

DALLAS, Texas – FC Dallas tallied a 6-5 penalty shootout win over Oklahoma Energy FC after the two sides stayed knotted at two goals each through 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of overtime at SMU’s Westcott Field Wednesday night.

FC Dallas nearly grabbed an early lead in the 11th minute, when Mauro Diaz played a ball into space for Agustin Jara. The newest FC Dallas signing flew up the left flank to gather the pass and centered a cross for fellow Argentine, Maxi Urruti. Surrounded by defenders, Urruti had a hard time finding space to get off a shot. The only option was a quick poke directly at OKC Energy goalkeeper Carl Cochran. The Oklahoma City goalkeeper held his ground and made the point-blank save without allowing a rebound.

Oklahoma City took a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute when FC Dallas defender Aaron Guillen made a slide tackle to deny midfielder Danni Gonzalez a goal-scoring opportunity. Unfortunately, the rebound fell to the feet of Jordan Rideout, who slipped a low shot past Guillen and underneath Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez.

Juan Esteban Ortiz switched the point of attack to the right flank, where Coy Craft collected the pass and moved the ball inside the area to Carlos Lizarazo in the 37th minute. The Colombian turned his defender as he accepted the pass with the inside of his right foot and was in alone on goal. Lizarazo gave Cochran no chance to

make a save, firing a line drive shot just inside the near post to make it 1-1.

Lightning struck twice, six minutes later when Lizarazo accepted a second pass from Craft in the same manner, in the same position on the field and beat Cochran just inside the near post to make it, 2-1, just before halftime.

Dallas controlled large portions of the second half, keeping OKC at bay until the Energy produced three consecutive corners in a two-minute period around the 80th minute. Oklahoma City’s Coady Andrews won the third corner at the top of the six-yard box, but the tall defender was unable to trouble Gonzalez, who collected the shot in the center of his goal.

Dallas nearly made it 3-1, when Atiba Harris slid a through ball inside the corner of the area for Kellyn Acosta. The Plano native smacked a hard shot with his first touch towards the near post, but Cochran made the initial save and recovered in time to swallow up the rebound.

OKC captain Michael Thomas leveled the match in the 89thminute with a snap header off a corner kick. Four minutes into stoppage time, Dallas had an opportunity to re-take the lead on a set piece of its own, but Matt Hedges’ header sailed wide of goal. Shortly after, referee Guido Gonzalez Jr., blew the whistle signaling the end of regulation and sending the match into the first of two 15-minute overtime periods.

FC Dallas defender Zach Loyd was stretchered off following a collision with Energy FC defender Michael Harris at the 105th minute. Loyd had his back to Harris when the defender leapt for a 50-50 ball and laid out the veteran center back. Harris was shown a yellow card for the aggressive, dangerous play. As a result, Dallas, which had already used all three substitutions in the match, was forced to play the remainder down to 10 men. Despite the disadvantage, the Dallas side kept the match level through the remainder of the second overtime period, forcing the match decision into a penalty shootout.

Oklahoma City tallied the first miss of the shootout when Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez saved Wojciech Wojcok’s attempt, but immediately after, Carl Cochran stopped Hedges’ shot low to his right side. Dallas again had the advantage when Energy FC defender Cyprain Hedrick skied his attempt over the crossbar. Rookie Colin Bonner stepped in and calmly slotted home the game winner to give FC Dallas a 6-5 final advantage to advance to the next round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

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