Tauro FC vs. FC Dallas
2018 CONCACAF Champions League – Round of 16, Leg 1
Estadio Rommel Fernandez - Panama City
8 pm ET – Feb. 21, 2018
WATCH: go90.com, univisiondeportes.com, Galavision (tape delayed)
The highlight of a rather forgettable 2017 season for FC Dallas was a march to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals where Oscar Pareja’s side suffered an agonizing 4-3 aggregate loss to eventual champions Pachuca.
Dallas have made several upgrades after missing out on the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs and fans could a first glimpse at newcomers Reto Ziegler, Anton Nedyalkov and Santiago Mosquera in a competitive match.
To reach the semifinals a year ago, FC Dallas defeated Panamanian powerhouse Arabe Unido in the quarterfinals and they are looking for similar success in the opening leg in Panama City against a Tauro FC squad that has struggled to find consistency in its first seven matches of the Panamanian Clausura campaign.
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- Oscar Pareja said his club is up for the challenge against Tauro FC
- Reto Ziegler is excited about playing in the CCL
Tauro FC
After finishing atop the Panamanian Apertura standings before losing to eventual champions Chorrillo in the semifinals, Tauro have struggled out of the gate in the Clausura with just two wins in their first seven matches — including a 2-1 result over Chorrillo on Saturday with Jose “Pizza Boy” Tamburelli and Richard Dixon scoring. Los Toros de Pedregal are in fifth place, already seven points behind leaders Arabe Unido.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- Injury Report: OUT: M Jose Munoz (foot)
Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Orlando Mosquera — Rigoberto Nino, Gustavo Chara, Richard Dixon, Jesus Araya — Jose Gomez, Rolando Botello, Marcos Sanchez — Jesus Gonzalez, Edwin Aguilar, Jose Tamburelli
FC Dallas
Amid all the new faces for FC Dallas is a very familiar one in Mauro Diaz, who is fully healthy and has been his influential self in preseason fixtures, which is very good news for Pareja. However, it midfielder Kellyn Acosta will not likely be featured after appearing to re-aggravating a nagging groin injury in the final preseason tuneup against Portland.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- Injury Report: QUESTIONABLE: M Kellyn Acosta (lower body)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Jesse Gonzalez — Reggie Cannon, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Anton Nedyalkov — Carlos Gruezo, Victor Ulloa— Michael Barrios, Mauro Diaz, Santiago Mosquera — Maxi Urruti
Previous Meetings
There are two all-time encounters and both came in the 2011-12 CCL group stage. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in Texas on Sept. 14, 2011 before Tauro claimed a 5-3 victory in Panama City two weeks later.
- CONCACAF Champions League history: Tauro FC - 5 appearance (2008/09, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2014/15) 5 wins, 14 losses, 5 ties (14 goals) … FC Dallas - 2 appearances (2011/12, 2016/17) 8 wins, 5 losses, 3 ties (24 goals)
Referees
Referee: Cesar Ramos (Mexico)
Assistant Referees: Marvin Torrentera (Mexico), Miguel Angel Hernandez (Mexico)
Fourth Official: Oscar Macias (Mexico)
