Football Club Dallas came into Banc of California Stadium on Saturday May 5 and earned a 1-1 draw. Argentinian Maximiliano Urruti equalized early in the second half as Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) played better but tied.

Steven Beitashour scored 10 minutes into the match. The early goal provoked an enthusiastic crowd at The Banc but the LAFC faithful went home experiencing its first draw on home turf. Urruti’s 55th minute equalizer gave Dallas a share of the points.

Uruguayan forward Diego Rossi featured as the lone striker while Mark Anthony Kaye played a more advanced roll in midfield. This gave forward Carlos Vela space on the wing while Latif Blessing provided balance on the opposite flank.

The backline of Jordan Harvey, Laurent Ciman, Walker Zimmerman, and Beitashour was unchanged from last week. The quartet continued to defend well on Sunday after last week’s 1-0 home-opener shutout of Seattle Sounders.

Columbian youngster Eduardo Atuesta was given his first LAFC start of his Major League Soccer career and combined nicely in the midfield with Benny Feilhaber.

Of the bunch, it was the trio of Vela, Rossi, and Beitashour that combined for the Black and Gold’s only goal. The right-sided defender held a run to perfection to latch onto, then score past goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, from Rossi’s well-timed pass after the Uruguayan played a give-and-go with Vela.

Maurer and his counterpart Tyler Miller were forced into saves as the half continued but Miller conceded next. Dallas forward Urruti hit the back of the net from 25 yards by skipping a well-placed shot inside the post.

A run towards the 18-yard box from Santiago Mosqueda ended with a pass to Urruti’s left side. All in one motion, the Argentine turned the out-of-position Ciman before dispensing his chance. LAFC’s preference of a slick, wet pitch might have helped Urruti’s shot trickle in a lot quicker than expected.

The rest of the match saw little opportunities. The Black and Gold took the lion’s share of possession with not much to show for it.
LAFC’s Egyptian midfielder Omar Gaber’s chance in the 71st minute should have put the host team ahead. His fitness continues its development after spending time on the injured list during preseason and recovering just four games ago.

With four minutes of added time, Vela found himself in a favorable spot at the mouth of goal two minutes into stoppage only to fluff his lines and hit a tame shot wide of the net from about 8 yards.

Referee Jair Marrufo whistled for the final time and Dallas conquered a tough point at The Banc to become the first club to do that.
Next up, the trail of firsts continues for Banc of California Stadium as Downtown LA’s inaugural mid-week match up comes on Wednesday night on May 9 when Minnesota United come in for a Western Conference 7 p.m. clash.