Tied 1-1 in the 78th minute against the Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas finally decided to release the Cobra.
New signing Zdenek Ondrasek entered from the bench to make his Dallas debut with the club needing a goal. Homegrown midfielder Thomas Roberts entered for his debut, as well.
A few minutes thereafter, Roberts set up Ondrasek who laced a shot that Tim Howard could only swat away, leaving Ryan Hollingshead free to tap in the rebound, earning Dallas a 2-1 win over the Rapids.
“I was so happy to make my debut finally, I was waiting a long time,” Ondrasek said after the match. “The same for Thomas [Roberts]. We won the game, it was an amazing feeling. … It’s important for the guys who start on the bench to come on the pitch and change the game, I think we did it pretty well.”
Ondrasek hadn’t yet been even named to the bench after signing from Polish first-division side Wisla Krakow. The 29-year-old had 11 goals in 19 appearances for the Polish club over the first half of their season before joining Dallas, then had to wait for his opportunity.
“This was new for me, but I knew the chance would come,” Ondrasek said. “I didn’t come here to just enjoy Texas and enjoy the nice weather, which is coming now. I was ready, I was working extra long. The football is a little different here, I have to connect with the guys and staff here. I think it will work. I’m very happy with the 15 minutes and I’m so happy that Ryan scored — it was an awesome pass from Thomas. It should have been a goal from me, but I’m happy that Ryan was there.”
Off the pitch, the Czech forward has settled in fine to his new surroundings.
“I’m so happy from the beginning, everyone is so nice here,” Ondrasek said. “No one is annoying or not nice. I got so much help at the beginning with everything from around football, on the pitch we were helping each other.
“Maybe it would be a little easier if I had a girlfriend here,” Ondrasek added, “but I’m happy that [teammate Dominique] Badji doesn’t because he’s helping me because he’s alone. It’s good for me — but don’t tell him. Or her!”
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