[FOUR THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT …] Jonathan Top, 19, became the fourth homegrown player from the FC Dallas academy systemto debut for the first team when he came on late in the Hoops’ 1-1 tie with Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. For four things to know about Top …
READY FORSHOT. Other homegrown players who have played for FC Dallas are Bryan Leyva, Ruben Luna and
BIG WEEK. Top’s debut came a week after he scored for FC Dallas reserves in their 3-0 win over the RSL second team. It earned Top a place inthe 18-player game day squad for Saturday’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
U-20 CALL-UP. The forward had just returned from his first U.S.U-20 national team training camp in Beaverton, Ore. Until then, his national team experience consisted of participation with the U-18s. Top’s goal is to play in the 2013 Under-20 World Cup, scheduledto be played in Turkey.
DA SCORING MACHINE. Top signed with FC Dallas in January 2011 midway through his senior year at North Side High School in FortWorth. He was an all-conference Development Academy U-15/16 selection in 2009-10 with 23 goals in 28 games. He had 14 goals in 21 games last season with the U-17/18s. He’s still eligible to play inthe Development Academy and has scored six goals in 10 games this season in the upper age division.
