While many teams gear up for the start of the 2018 MLS season this weeknd, FC Dallas has already begun competitive action.
Dallas opened the year with a Round of 16 clash against Panamanian club Tauro F.C. in the CONCACAF Champions League. After a 1-0 loss last week in Panama City, FCD will look to defeat Tauro at home Wednesday night at 7 p.m. CT. Dallas was a combined 12-2-7 at home across all competitions last year, including a 2-1 victory over eventual CCL winner Pachuca of Mexico’s Liga MX.
Dallas will have to play without midfielder and U.S. men’s national team player Kellyn Acosta, who is out for six to eight weeks after successful surgery for a sports hernia. Acosta shined in last year’s edition of the competition, scoring a brace in the match against Panama’s Árabe Unido and the game-winning free kick against Pachuca.
New signee Anton Nedyalkov is also a potential question mark for the team at left back. Óscar Pareja mentioned the Bulgarian international has tendonitis. Teammate Maynor Figueroa can come off the bench and provide experience for the team if needed, providing ample replacement if Nedyalkov is unable to go for the second leg.
A positive sign for Dallas is the health and play of Mauro Diaz, who tore his Achilles in 2016 and struggled last year to regain his old form. Diaz looked sharp in preseason, including a goal in the Mini Sun Cup preseason tournament. Diaz’ creativity will be essential for Dallas against a Tauro team that looked to hunker down during the second half of the first leg.
Santiago Mosquera, the young designated player brought in from Colombia, will have another chance to make an impact for Dallas on the wing. Mosquera hit side netting on an opportunity in the first leg but provided some positives before subbing out in the 68th minute.
Dallas needs a win by more than two goals Wednesday to advance to the next round. An exit in the Round of 16 would be disappointing for the club after making it to the 2017 CCL semifinals.
Pareja knows there are many scenarios for FC Dallas to advance, but he is solely focused on securing a victory.
“We need to win first,” Pareja said in an interview on the team’s website. “First thought we have in our minds is that we are at home and we need to win that.”