FRISCO, Texas – On Sunday night at Toyota Stadium, FC Dallas did what they needed to do in order to secure their first-ever Supporters’ Shield.
Unfortunately for them, the New York Red Bulls did as well, leaving FCD second-best in the MLS regular season by the second tiebreaker of goal differential. But there were plenty of positives to take away from Sunday’s 2-1 win over San Jose – their first victory in a regular-season finale since 2003, when they defeated Colorado at Dragon Stadium in their previous incarnation as the Dallas Burn.
For starters, FC Dallas set a franchise record by finishing the 2015 season with 60 points in the standings.
“Putting ourselves with the same points as New York, it’s a great achievement,” said head coach Oscar Pareja. “Still, we have a sour taste in our mouth knowing that we could have won it. In my eyes, they won it. They were the best team in the league, especially playing in a conference that is very difficult. We did our work.”
Even had the Red Bulls fallen to Chicago, FC Dallas had their work cut out for them against an Earthquakes team fighting for their playoff lives as well. Dallas fell behind 1-0 early in the game thanks to the terrorizing play of Quincy Amarikwa, who accounted for the lone San Jose goal.
“In the first half they were giving us some problems,” defender Zach Loyd said. “Amarikwa is very physical. [Chris Wondolowski] was finding holes on us. We weren’t keeping track of him.”
The club adjusted its defensive approach in the second half, according to Pareja, moving holding midfielder Victor Ulloa upfield a bit to cut off the middle better and give Mauro Diaz defensive help. By paying better attention to Amarikwa, Dallas were able to create a better sense of organization in the back.
“It was going to be a long day,” Pareja said of San Jose scoring first. “The boys found a way to play them after the first 15 minutes – we started dominating with options. I think we equalized the game in a very beautiful, collective way. In the second half, I thought we were the best team on the field. And the score says it all.”
The move paid dividends on the offensive side of the ball as well, especially after gaining a man advantage due to Matias Perez Garcia’s red card. As Ulloa pushed higher up, he found himself in prime position to dispossess Clarence Goodson and work into the box to score his second goal of this season and his career – and his first in front of his hometown fans.
“I’m so happy getting my first goal in front of my fans,” Ulloa said. “I grew up in this city. It’s been a long time coming. I dedicate this goal to my family.”
While some disappointment exists in not capturing the Supporters’ Shield, FCD have taken this win, along with their unblemished October record of 4-0-1, as a positive sign heading into the 2015 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Both the head coach and his players have said the club is in a better spot than they were last season, when they entered as a No. 4 seed and were in year one of the Pareja era.
Now with the luxury of avoiding this week's Knockout Round matches, the club’s sights are set on just one thing as they ride their current hot streak.
“We’re ready,” Ulloa said. “That momentum will carry us through to the [conference] semifinals. We’re ready to fight for the Cup.”
