FC Dallas Defeats New Mexico United 4-1 in Preseason Friendly

January 27, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – FC Dallas News Release

Frisco, Texas – FC Dallas continued its winning ways in the 2024 preseason, defeating USL Championship side New Mexico United 4-1 at Toyota Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Head coach Nico Estévez fielded a 5-2-2-1 formation for the second-straight game, utilizing Herbert Endeley and Marco Farfan as wingbacks either side of a back three.

Offseason signing Enes Sali made his FC Dallas debut, starting as one of the wingers opposite Sebastian Lletget.

Sali had an excellent opportunity 12 minutes in when he collected the ball on the edge of the box following a New Mexico mix-up but his left-footed shot was saved by the goalkeeper.

Second-year wing back Herb Endeley opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a fantastic curling effort into the top corner. Lletget found Endeley down the right wing before the Indiana University product cut onto his weaker left foot and put Dallas into the lead from the edge of the box.

New Mexico equalized 3 minutes later when Zico Bailey unleashed a strike from outside the box that found the side netting of Jimmy Maurer’s goal. Dallas had a chance to take the lead just before halftime when Lletget forced a save from the New Mexico ‘keeper following clever build-up play from Logan Farrington and Endeley down the right wing.

Second Half Lineup: Antonio Carrera; Sam Junqua, Nkosi Tafari, Amet Korça; Isaiah Parker, Tsiki Ntsabeleng, Liam Fraser, Bernard Kamungo; Paul Arriola, Diego Garcia, Eugene Ansah

Diego Garcia almost scored with the first chance of the second half but his shot from eight yards out was deflected just wide following strong approach play from Bernard Kamungo, who was deputizing as a wing back. Eugene Ansah had a good look at goal in the 64th minute when he carried the ball from midfield, bypassed his defender, and saw his low shot blocked out for a corner.

Dallas re-took the lead in the 71st minute when Tsiki Ntsabeleng won the ball in midfield before playing a through-ball to Ansah who poked it past the ‘keeper and into the net. Midfielder Liam Fraser added to the lead two minutes later when he found himself completely free on the edge of the 18-yard box before stroking it home with his right foot.

Less than a minute later, Paul Arriola made it 4-1 when he connected with Ansah’s cross from the right and passed it into an empty net.

Scoring Summary:

DAL: Herbert Endeley (Paul Arriola) – 3′

NMU: Zico Bailey – 30′

DAL: Eugene Ansah (Tsiki Ntsabeleng) -…