{"id":5018,"date":"2017-03-16T00:05:01","date_gmt":"2017-03-16T04:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=5018"},"modified":"2017-03-16T00:05:01","modified_gmt":"2017-03-16T04:05:01","slug":"fc-dallas-fights-back-pachuca-ccl-semis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2017\/03\/16\/fc-dallas-fights-back-pachuca-ccl-semis\/","title":{"rendered":"FC Dallas Fights Back Against Pachuca in the CCL Semis"},"content":{"rendered":"

FC Dallas fought\u00a0back to earn a 2-1 victory against C.F. Pachuca in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals on Wednesday night. Kellyn Acosta delivered the knockout blow in the 58th\u00a0minute, scoring\u00a0a stunning free kick winner from 25 yards. FC Dallas qualified for the semis after a comprehensive 5-2 demolition\u00a0of Panama’s \u00c1rabe Unido. Pachuca reached the final four by\u00a0thrashing\u00a0Deportivo Saprissa 4-0 at Estadio Hidalgo in the second leg of the CCL quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

FC Dallas Fights Back Against Pachuca in the\u00a0CCL Semis<\/h2>\n

First Half<\/h3>\n

Pachuca sucker-punched FC Dallas in the opening moments of the match. Twenty\u00a0year old fullback \u00c9rick Aguirre roasted Hernan Grana on the right side of Dallas’ defense, dribbling to the byline. He centered for Franco Jara who controlled the ball on his chest, and thumped a half-volley off the post and into goal. The opening strike stunned FC Dallas and they spent the next 25\u00a0minutes trying\u00a0to get a foothold in the match.<\/p>\n

The Texas side slowly came to their senses and in the 44th minute Hernan Grana atoned for his earlier mistake. He made a blazing run down Pachuca’s left hand side and served\u00a0a delicious cross for Cristian Colm\u00e1n. The Paraguayan attacked the ball with his head, but could not connect. Pachuca’s\u00a0goalkeeper parried, but the ball\u00a0fell to Maxi Urruti inside the top of the box. Urruti\u00a0directed\u00a0a difficult first time strike into goal to equalize, narrowly escaping a defender’s tackle. FC Dallas felt lucky to be level heading\u00a0into the break, after\u00a0a disastrous start to the half.<\/p>\n

Second Half<\/h3>\n

FC Dallas pressed for a goal from the opening whistle of the second half. After near misses by Colm\u00e1n and Gruezo, Kellyn Acosta treated the Dallas faithful to a moment of magic. Pachuca conceded a free kick just outside of their box when \u00d3scar Murillo elbowed Maxi Urruti as the two competed for a header. Kellyn Acosta sized up the free kick and unleashed a picturesque curled ball over the wall and into the top right\u00a0of the goal.<\/p>\n

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GOAL Dallas, Kellyn ACOSTA No. 23 | @FCDallas<\/a>@Tuzos<\/a>#SCCL<\/a>#SoyAficionado<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/VTYS1Kjp62<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) March 16, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

FC Dallas controlled most of the second half, creating more chances than their Liga MX opposition.\u00a0The play balanced out as the full time whistle approached, and Pachuca almost grabbed a late equalizer in the 92nd minute.\u00a0A\u00a0long ball\u00a0was delivered into the box by\u00a0Jonathan Urretaviscaya. Braian Rodr\u00edguez jumped above\u00a0a crowd and\u00a0looped a header toward goal, but Chris Seitz recovered well and\u00a0tipped the ball over the bar. The victory was secured for FC Dallas and the matched ended 2-1.<\/p>\n

Second Leg<\/h3>\n

Despite a nearly fatal start, FC Dallas forged an admirable comeback in Frisco\u00a0against Pachuca. They did so by scoring\u00a0two\u00a0quality goals against the stingiest defense in Liga MX. The early away goal they conceded could be costly though. They take a very narrow lead to Estadio Hidalgo, where it will prove\u00a0difficult to shut down Pachuca. FC Dallas\u00a0will likely need at least one goal and a special defensive performance to advance. Part two\u00a0of this series will decide a winner on Tuesday, April 4th at 10pm ET. The winner faces either Tigres UANL\u00a0or the Vancouver Whitecaps in the CONCACAF Champions League final.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n