FC Dallas picked up their second loss of the 2023 season on Saturday night, losing 2-1 to LAFC at BMO Stadium.
The defending MLS Cup champions scored early and late in this one to remain unbeaten in league play this season. The win also continued their dominance over FC Dallas at home.
LAFC opened the game with a goal from Timothy Tillman in the second minute of the match. The hosts put on the pressure as the Dallas backline was attempting to build out of the back. Kwadwo Opoku picked off a bad pass from goalkeeper Maarten Paes and then found Tillman’s run who then fired a quick shot to the far post for the game’s first goal.
FC Dallas nearly tied the game up in the 17th minute on a long-ranged shot by Edwin Cerrillo. The play was a nice build-up started by Alan Velasco who played Paul Arriola through on the left wing. Arriola’s cross to the far post for Jesus Ferriera. His shot was blocked and the ball found its way to Cerrilo who fired a shot from distance into the back of the net. Unfortunately for Dallas, a video review came in and said that Jader Obrian blocked John McCarthy’s ability to save it and the goal was called off.
Video review came up again 20 minutes later as Ema Twumasi was whistled for a foul and earned a yellow card. But after another review, the call was turned into a red card, forcing FC Dallas to play down a man for the remainder of the match.
After weathering the storm from LAFC, Dallas finally tied the game in the 73rd minute on a goal from Nksoi Tafari. Jesus Jimenez sent in a long cross on a free kick to Sebastian Ibeagha, his header was deflected down but Tafari was there to stamp the ball into the back of the net.
LAFC didn’t waste time finding the lead again and they nearly did thanks to another video review in the 78th minute with a Carlos Vela penalty kick. Tsiki Ntsabeleng wasn’t initially whistled for a foul in the penalty box but a review showed he fouled an LAFC player. Vela stepped up to the penalty spot but his attempt rang off the crossbar to keep the game level.
Moments later in the 84th minute, LAFC finally found their game-winner from Dénis Bouanga. A Vela corner kick found Bouanga free on the far post. The LAFC attacker opted to shoot on goal from an impossible angle and found the back of the net to win the game.
Instant Reaction: For a brief moment it felt like this was going to end level and FC Dallas was going to get a very big draw away from home. The game is cruel this way though and just as the night had gone well for LAFC, they scored an unlikely goal late to win it. FCD wasn’t bad throughout the game, they just struggled early and had to play catch-up. A lot will be said about video review with this one, and rightfully so.
Man of the Match: Paes, just for keeping the game as close as he did in the second half.
What’s next for FC Dallas: The club returns home next weekend to host the Portland Timbers.
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