FC Dallas products play major role in USMNT win over Honduras
Former FC Dallas players made the difference for the U.S. Men’s National Team in their 3-0 win over Honduras during Concacaf World Cup Qualifying on Wednesday night.
In total, six players with ties to the club played out on the pitch for the United States, five of which were homegrown academy products.
FC Dallas players are making a major impact on the USMNT
Two-time MLS Defender of the Year and Plano native Kellyn Acosta provided assistance on all three goals. He kicked off the match with a connection to Little Elm native and Juventus midfielder, Weston McKennie for the first goal of the match.
Walker Zimmerman, who was picked 7th overall by FC Dallas in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, received a cross from Acosta in the 37th minute to go up by two at the half in the freezing conditions.
In the second half, U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year and El Paso native Ricardo Pepi sent a header to Acosta, who settled the ball before sending it to Christian Pulisic for the third and final goal of the night.
Reggie Cannon would also start for the stars and stripes, while Jesús Ferreira would come in for Pepi in the 76th minute.
The United States remains in second place in the Concacaf World Cup Qualifying table, now three goals ahead against its southern rival Mexico. Canada leads the standings with 25 points.
The Men’s National Team will resume qualification in March’s final window with a match at Mexico on March 24, in Orlando against Panama on March 27, and against Costa Rica March 30.
Critics claim that FC Dallas has never seen any league success with the talent they have developed, however MLS is becoming more and more of a selling league. The biggest case study of the principle this season will be in Dallas, as the Hunts completed the largest purchase in club history for Alan Velasco from Independiente, using money they aquired in their trade of Pepi to Bundesliga club FC Augsburg.
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Velasco, Ferreira and FC Dallas begin the 2022 regular season on Feb. 26 at home against Canadian MLS club Toronto FC.