FC Dallas got back in the win column Tuesday with a comprehensive 5-0 win over League One side Brentford at Osterly Park. Arturo Alvarez scored a pair of second half goals while Kenny Cooper, Carlos Ruiz and Mark Wilson all added tallies for the Hoops.
After dropping two of its three matches in Spain last week, FC Dallas was looking to get off to a flying start in its first game in England. Despite rain and hail that fell for most of the opening 45 minutes, Mark Wilson was able to give his team a perfect start after just 17 minutes. His team dominated possession over the opening quarter of an hour but was unable to find a way past the Bees 17-yaer old 'keeper Clark Masters. However, on 17 minutes, Wilson received a pass 20 yards from goal from Carlos Ruiz. With a number of passing options available to Wilson, the Brentford backline backed off of him, leaving the former Manchester United midfielder enough space to shape and shoot, placing his right-footed shot just inside Masters' right post to give FCD a 1-0 lead.
Five minutes later the home side had its best chance to get on the scoreboard in the opening half. Drew Moor was adjudged to have fouled forward Ivalou Dimitrov just outside the box resulting in a free kick in a dangerous position. Ryan Peters was able to get the ball over and around the wall, but couldn't challenge Dario Sala as he watched the ball fly over his bar, keeping the score 1-0.
Dallas would double its lead just before halftime as Carlos Ruiz scored from close range. Alvarez started the attack again, collecting the ball on the left and quickly moving it across the field for Ronnie O'Brien who had gotten behind the Brentford defense on the right. O'Brien hit a first time cross, low into the box for Ruiz who cut inside of his marker and redirected the cross past Masters to make the score 2-0 going into halftime.
FC Dallas extended its lead just five minutes into the second half when Alvarez got his first of the match. Ruiz played the ball out to O'Brien in space on the right wing, allowing the Irishman to send a cross to the near post for Alvarez who beat his defender to the ball and head the cross home, giving his team a 3-0 advantage.
Fifteen minutes later Alvarez added a second when he slid the ball into an open net to make the score 4-0. Kenny Cooper knocked an O'Brien throw down into the path of Ruiz who raced into the box, pulling Masters off his line before slipping a square ball across the face of goal for Alvarez who just was able to get his toe on it ahead of Louis Park for his team-best fourth goal of the preseason.
Cooper added a fifth to round out the victory late on, collecting a pass from Ruiz and rifling a right-footed shot past Masters for the final 5-0 advantage. Mark Wilson looked to have made it 6-0 just minutes before the end, but he was adjudged to be offside when he scored from close range after another fine O'Brien cross.
At the other end of the pitch, Sala was not called upon to make a single save on the afternoon as the back four of Chris Gbandi, Clarence Goodson, Drew Moor and Bobby Rhine as well as central midfielder Simo Valakari did a sensational job of stifling the Brentford attack, especially denying former Leicester City midfielder Junior Lewis any real sight of goal throughout the 90 minutes.
FC Dallas Lineup (4-4-2): Dario Sala, Chris Gbandi, Clarence Goodson, Drew Moor, Bobby Rhine, Simo Valakari, Mark Wilson, Arturo Alvarez, Ronnie O'Brien, Kenny Cooper, Carlos Ruiz.
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