FC Dallas demonstrated resiliency against Minnesota United in the first round of the Major League Soccer playoffs on Monday, first overcoming a 1-0 deficit in regular time, then winning 5-4 in a penalty shootout.
FC Dallas’ Alan Velasco scored the fifth penalty goal against one miss by Minnesota to earn the victory. It is the first time Dallas has advanced to the second round of the playoffs since 2020, and it marks a historic turn-around from the disappointment of 2021.
Minnesota was first to get on the board after the game opened with strong defensive efforts by both clubs. Minnesota’s Emanuel Reynoso scored on a first strike shot at the 53-minute mark on a shot set up by Bongokuhle Hlongwane, who was able to dig the ball out of an aggressive defensive attack to set up the shot.
FC Dallas answered at the 64-minute mark on a looping corner kick from Alan Velasco taken on the far side. The ball was deflected by Dallas’ Matt Hedges and was found by Facundo Quignon, who headed the ball into the back of the net, easily beating Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair for the equalizer.
After 120 minutes of play, the game was decided on penalty kicks. All five FC Dallas players hit goals in the shootout. Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes made one save on a shot by Wil Trapp. Velasco scored the final goal to send FC Dallas on the road to meet Austin FC and did so with a flourish of style.
Velasco’s shot on goal was a softly hit rainbow that came much slower than St. Clair anticipated. The Loons goalie hit the ground well before the shot arrived and could only helplessly swat at it as it hit the net. Velasco calmly walked away and was immediately met with a swarm of teammates celebrating the victory.
FC Dallas dominated in almost every phase of the game but was unable to find pay dirt. In all, the team took 19 shots with nine on goal and owned the time of possession. Dallas had control of the ball for 60% of the game and completed 729 passes at 82.6 percent accuracy against Minnesota’s seven shots, three on goal, and 474 passes at 79.3% accuracy.
Paes continued his superior play with two saves in regular time, and the clutch save on penalty shots. Paes is in his first season with Dallas and has done his part to propel the team to the next stage, the Conference Semifinals that will determine who faces off in the Championship game.
FC Dallas and Minnesota were the last to play in Round 1, and both teams knew they would be facing Austin FC with a victory. Austin finished second in the Western conference ahead of FC Dallas. Austin will host the game as the higher-seeded team entering the match.
Dallas improved by 20 competition points over last season and was locked into the playoffs for the last several weeks of play under the guidance of first-year head coach Nico Estevez. He has got the team rolling into a Texas-sized showdown on October 23 that will determine who will advance to the Western Conference Final.
