FRISCO, TEXAS— Even though the beginning of FC Dallas’ season didn’t go as expected, the club found something to celebrate, a diamond in the rough.
Second-year player Jacori Hayes put in a man-of-the-match performance during Dallas’ Major League Soccer opener Saturday night, which ended in a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake. Hayes played in place of an injured Kellyn Acosta, and the Wake Forest alum gave Dallas the box-to-box presence it lacked in CONCACAF Champions League matches played leading to the start of the season.
“Jacori made me proud tonight,” Dallas coach Óscar Pareja said. “It’s a great message for the coaches. Jacori is a young man that has been working and waiting for his opportunity. Today he looked like a veteran. It was amazing to see his personality and the way the ball flowed through him.”
Dallas struggled last season, so it was tough for Pareja to select younger players during matches with the pressures of a playoff spot on the line.
Hayes impressed during preseason after not playing much in 2017. The former first-round pick played in 13 competitive matches last season, spending 10 of those on loan with the Tulsa Roughnecks of the United Soccer League.
“I felt really good,” Hayes said. “I felt comfortable out there. [I’m] proud of the team and how we performed. We wanted to get the win but at least we fought back and got the tie.”
In the match against Real Salt Lake, Hayes played much like the player he replaced in the lineup, linking the defense to the attack on both ends of the pitch. He completed 89 percent of his 55 passes, with 30 of them coming in the middle of the park.
His play also enabled Mauro Diaz to focus more on the attack compared to what he had been doing toward the end of the season and in the first leg of the CCL match. Diaz would receive the ball deep, limiting his attacking ability. The passing charts below illustrate the large difference in the number of passes he attempted farther up the pitch in each match.
Hayes will be important for the club as time goes on. With Acosta’s injury, Hayes can provide a like-for-like replacement. Carlos Gruezo, another option, is a defensive-based player and while he may be asked to push higher up the pitch, he is not a box-to-box player. Nor is Victor Ulloa, whose role is more defensive and to clean things up as Dallas clings to a lead.
And Hayes may be even more important in the future. Transfer rumors swirled around Acosta and FCD last season. The 22-year-old showed that he could be a potential replacement for the Huntsmen if they decide to sell Acosta.
Whatever may happen, Hayes is ready to showcase his talent and make the most of this opportunity.
“All of last season, I was waiting for an opportunity, and it’s finally come this season,” Hayes said. “I just try to do the best I can and improve every day and take my chance when it comes. Hopefully, I did that tonight and [I’ll] start the grind all over again for the next game. I gotta keep improving even after this one.”