DALLAS – Same opponent as last season, same result for FC Dallas in Round 4 of the U.S. Open Cup – though this time, it came in much different fashion.
FC Dallas were taken to the brink of elimination Wednesday night, needing extra time and penalty kicks to advance past OKC Energy at SMU, 2-2 (6-5), thanks in large part to an 89th minute equalizer from OKC.
“Unfortunately we gave up a goal on a set play in the last minute, but it gives us a good experience,” FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja said. “It was difficult, but the experience is good for all the young guys who are part of the victory.”
As expected, FC Dallas rolled out a slew of atypical starters, with many of them playing major minutes. The most prominent of the newcomers to play was Carlos Lizarazo, who notched a brace in the first half and the first PK for FCD.
“We let Carlos adjust to the rhythm with training, and Carlos came up today and showed us he can help us, for sure,” Pareja said.
Added Lizarazo via translator: “I’m very happy because I had the opportunity, and I wanted to give my best tonight. I had the opportunity to prove [myself] to everyone else.”
Aside from the late OKC equalizer, Dallas also dealt with a blow towards the end of the first extra time session when Zach Loyd was taken down hard in the air, forcing him to be taken off the field on a stretcher.
He did not re-enter the game, and with FCD having already used all three substitutions, that forced them to extend the game to PKs while down a man. Jesse Gonzalez said after the match he thought the play where Loyd was injured warranted a red card, and it seemed many on the bench agreed with him at the time of the foul.
Pareja downplayed the call, however.
“It was not a bad intention from the player on the Energy,” Pareja said. “I know these guys a lot, and it was not. But to be fair, we end up being with just 10 players, and they had 11. But those are some things that happen in the game.”
Pareja said the club is waiting for medical results on Loyd, saying “he’s not looking good.” But as far as his team is concerned, he’s just happy they were able to escape with a win, given how much more difficult this bout was compared to last season’s affair.
“It’s a lot of experiences that we had today,” Pareja said, continuing to tell a story about his first experience in the league playing against a non-MLS team. “It’s hard. Winning today is good, and we got through the adversities of the game. It tells us that we need to be on our toes now.”
