FC Dallas, a club that shared (until Tuesday night) the longest major silverware drought of all clubs in Major League Soccer with their counterpart New England Revolution, brought back the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy back to the Dallas suburb Frisco for the first time since 1997.
The final, which is named after the Toros club founding father Lamar Hunt, was played in front of a sellout crowd of 16,615 supporters who crave their club being victorious just as much as the End Zone Militia (a group that fire muskets after the Revs score). However, FC Dallas disallowed for the New England Revolution's Juan Agudelo's sixth-minute goal from deflating their confidence in achieving victory.
Dallas responds quickly to Revolution's goal
The rapid opening goal by the visitors was soon canceled out by a beautifully composed volley and the first goal of a brace by Maximiliano Urruti that became the turning point towards the ultimate success of the northern Texas club. Mauro Diaz provided an astounding performance with three assists and a penalty kick goal that would ultimately determine the outcome of the match, despite Agudelo firing a second goal into the net in the 73rd minute. Routine headers, world class through balls, and more easily described a marvelous match from the hosts.
The overall performance of the now two-time US Open Cup champions is recognizable from their form during their league campaign so far this season. FC Dallas leads the western conference with 51 points through 29 games played, putting them on track so far to win the Supporters' Shield. This is all thanks to the squad chemistry and ideology head coach Oscar Pareja and the rest of the club's staff, that is different than most of the opposition in North America in regard to youth players and financial management.
The Toros continue to dismantle a recent popular philosophy in MLS that places the significance of a club's success around older and experienced designated players that are brought into the league from across the globe or play for the Stars and Stripes. FC Dallas has equipped itself with phenomenal youth facilities that cater quality players into the senior team while still spending enough money to facilitate homegrown player needs and a number of foreign prospects. Manager Pareja achieves this chemistry by giving both young and old players a chance to play despite their prior experience. Players such as Coy Craft and Kellyn Acosta are current squad members that have developed out of the youth academy.
FC Dallas is young and talented
Diaz told the media that the club has "a lot of young" and "talented players" which causes the team to have the "desire and willingness to win." The average age of the starting 11 on the field was just 26 as both squads are similar in terms of key youth players and experienced older players. This victory is all a result of Pareja's effort since returning to the club in 2014 to make sure that their investments in a financially strict league would pay off. Mauro Diaz, Fabian Castillo, and others are prime examples of young foreign players with no elite experience that have traveled from South America to join the club and continue their career. This contrasts to the now stereotypically popular remark of players such as Frank Lampard coming into the league and creating a 'retirement league'.
FC Dallas now has the chance to win a double or a treble depending on their performances in the MLS playoffs and the 2017-2018 CONCACAF Champions League that their recent performances and title win have allowed them to qualify for. Through consistent teamwork, energy, and confidence this club has a lot to look forward to in the coming years.