FC Dallas shook off the disappointment from their midweek CONCACAF Champions League exit by defeating Minnesota United FC 2-0 on Saturday in MLS regular-season play at Toyota Stadium.
Dallas ramped up the pressure over the course of the first half, and were rewarded with Javier Morales' first goal for the club just before the halftime break. After the restart, Michael Barrios doubled the hosts' lead.
Goals
Three Things
- NO HANGOVER: There were some thoughts coming into the game that FC Dallas might be distracted by their heartbreaking last-minute loss in the CCL against Pachuca on Tuesday. On the contrary, they looked locked in and ready to turn the page on the Champions League, and while the game was physical and rather gritty, they certainly took care of business against a Minnesota United team coming off their first-ever MLS win.
- SEVERAL STANDOUTS FOR FCD: Barrios had a goal and an assist on the night, while Jesse Gonzalez got his second start of the MLS season, and came up big in the second half with five saves, and making a case to regain the starting GK spot. But Morales became the latest player in MLS to join the "50-50 club" in scoring 50 goals and 50 assists in the league. JaviMo may not be running the show for his new team, but with efforts like the one he put in on Saturday, he surely has more games left in his legs.
- INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENT FOR LOONS: The scoreline didn't reflect it, but Minnesota played perhaps their most complete defensive performance of the season. Sam Cronin and Marc Burch both made their debuts with the team and helped keep the group around them calm. There is still work to be done, but the defensive performance on Saturday is promising as Minnesota look to stop leaking buckets of goals on a regular basis.
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