FC Dallas standout Ricardo Pepi signs five-year contract extension
Field Level Media
28 Jul 2021, 09:19 GMT+10
FC Dallas has locked up emerging 18-year-old star forward Ricardo Pepi with a five-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday.
The deal runs through the 2026 season.
Pepi has eight goals in 14 appearances (nine starts) this season. I m very happy to give my everything to FC Dallas, Pepi said in a statement. I want to thank the club for having that trust in me. It s a big step in my career, personally and for my family.
Pepi scored three goals in a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday to become the youngest player (18 years, 196 days) in MLS history to achieve the hat trick.
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Ricardo Pepi s record-setting hat trick lifts FC Dallas past Galaxy
Field Level Media
25 Jul 2021, 13:05 GMT+10
Ricardo Pepi became the young player in Major League Soccer history to score a hat trick, leading FC Dallas to a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday evening in Frisco, Texas.
Pepi, who is 18 years, 197 days of age, increased his season goal total to a team-high eight with his first career hat trick. The El Paso, Texas, native is in his third season with the team.
FC Dallas (3-7-5, 14 points) emphatically snapped a three-match losing streak, all of which came on the road. FCD is a different team at home it is now unbeaten in 17 straight home matches (with nine wins and eight draws), the longest active regular-season home unbeaten run in MLS.
Not feeling so Pepi: FC Dallas 4, LA Galaxy 0
Shorthanded Galaxy seem to hit a wall in Frisco.
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Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Take nothing away from FC Dallas, who have been undefeated at home this season, but the LA Galaxy hit a wall at this point in the season on Saturday, falling 4-0 to their foe at Toyota Stadium.
The shorthanded Galaxy have weathered missing a slew of key players reasonably well the past few weeks, but after starting promisingly against Dallas, the lack of quality overall and tired legs caught up to them and they couldn’t compete once they went down a couple goals.
FRISCO, Texas (AP) â Led by Ricardo Pepiâs three-goal performance, Dallas secured a 4-0 victory over the LA Galaxy on Saturday.
Pepi notched the first goal for Dallas (3-7-5) in the 27th minute, assisted by Andres Ricaurte. Pepi put Dallas ahead 2-0 in the 44th minute.
Pepi gave Dallas a 3-0 advantage in the 50th minute, assisted by Szabolcs Schon. Jader Obrian sealed the victory for Dallas in the 88th minute, assisted by Justin Che.
The Galaxy (8-6-1) outshot Dallas 12-7, with four shots on goal to five for Dallas.
Jimmy Maurer saved all four shots he faced for Dallas. Jonathan Bond saved one of the five shots he faced for the Galaxy.