Image: FC Dallas via Twitter
04/19/2022
The U.S Open Cup is back! After two long years due to covid19, the historic tournament is back. FC Dallas has won this tournament twice in their short history, once in 1997 and again in 2016. Tonight Dallas joins in at the third round with a home game against USL Championship side FC Tulsa. The match is listed for 7:30pm tonight.
Now or Never, The Szabolcs Schon Situation-
One creative winger has been missing for Dallas for the beginning of the season, the Hungarian Cowboy Szabolcs Schon. After playing in 24 matches for his first season with Dallas last year and notching 6 assists, the Hungarian Cowboy has been noticeably absent. The acquisition of wingers Alan Velasco and Paul Arriola made Schon a depth piece, rather than a starter like before. A depth piece like Schon, someone to come off the bench and help push the attack made the offense depth look deeper but so far he has only made the bench once this season, in the 0-0 tie against the Chicago Fire.
His inability to make the bench has caused many to doubt if he'll remain with Dallas much longer. He's regularly called into the Hungarian National Team, even in their latest two friendlies though, Schon didn't play a single minute and rode the bench.
Tonight is the "now or never" moment for Schon. A tournament match against a club from a lower division should be the perfect way for him to make his way back into Dallas' 18 and prove he deserves to be on the field. If he doesn't play at all tonight then it's time for both parties to move on.
Lineup Prediction-
Image: Toros95 via Lineup11
The starting eleven for this match should consist of Dallas' "B team". Jimmy Maurer should start in goal tonight, giving Marteen Paes a deserved night off. Ema Twumasi and Facundo Quignon both started in Dallas' last regular season match against the New York Red Bulls, so they may not start tonight. They could play the first half, coming off at half time for Edwin Cerrillo and Eddie Munjoma (or Nanu). Cerrillo will more than likely start in Saturday's match against the Houston Dynamo, so having him and Quignon share minutes tonight would be ideal.
Scoreline Prediction-
4-0
Against a USL side, Dallas' "B team" should win and given the pedigree of some of this players, it shouldn't be a close game. Isaiah Parker and Lucas Bartlett are the only players that haven't earned any minutes in MLS. Schon hasn't played this year but he did last season.