FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas won 3-2 in one of the most unusual games of the season, their match vs. Toronto FC kicking off as scheduled on Saturday, but ending at just before 1 am local time at Toyota Park.
Coming off a two-game losing streak in which FCD had been outscored 7-1, head coach Oscar Pareja was happy with his team given the circumstances of everything that happened throughout an eventful match – one sandwiched around a three-and-a-half-hour weather delay brought on by severe thunderstorms.
“Given the circumstance, I thought that the game was very entertaining,” he said. “Both teams have very good players and left it all on the field and played well despite everything that happened.”
Toronto made a late push for a tie in the last 10 minutes as Sebastian Giovinco added two goals to cut the Dallas lead to one and set up a nervy injury-time conclusion for FCD. But mindful of last week's 4-0 home loss to Colorado, Pareja was pleased with how the team performed.
“Toronto made it difficult for us in the end,” he said. “After what happened last week, the team could have collapsed, but they fought hard and that shows character. So I give credit to the players for passing this difficult test.
“We wanted to finish what we had started and go home with three points in our pocket.”
Pareja noted that most teams do not have a plan in place for events like a seemingly endless – 203 minutes, to be exact – weather delay.
“It was very difficult on both teams, especially in the second half,” he said. “I give credit to all the players. We warmed up around 10 times and it was very difficult. The second half did not have much soccer logic and Toronto threw a lot of bodies at us, and made it difficult at the end.”
Pareja tried to keep the team loose and focused on the game, even with all the waiting.
“We tried to keep them loose in the first delay,” he said. “After the first delay we tried to keep them active and focused on the game, which was difficult. We made sure they were mentally strong.”
Pareja knew Dallas had to start quickly after last week’s loss, a game where he said his team came out flat. Two goals from Fabian Castillo in the first 10 minutes of the game provided exactly that.
“I am very happy with how the team performed in the half especially with that start,” he said. “Asking the players to bounce back after last week was difficult, and I am proud with how they responded. This week was about getting back to basics and we did that this week.”
Midfielder Michael Barrios got his first MLS start Saturday and Pareja felt the Colombian responded to the challenge.
“I am pleased with his performance,” he said. “It was time for him to come onto the field and provide a spark that the team needed. We needed to see how he could perform, especially since he is an international player.”
With five of FCD's next seven matches on the road, Pareja saw this weekend's three points as vital before that difficult stretch.
“The three points tonight were crucial,” he said. “The league is more competitive and getting points on the road [is] difficult, so points at home are important.”
Had the game been postponed any further, FCD and TFC would have had to call it a night and resume play on Sunday afternoon, according to team officials.
