Every time the MLS Cup Playoffs rolls around, pundits and fans are always looking for which team could slide into an underdog role and go on a surprising run in the playoffs.
Last year, it was the New York Red Bulls who came in as the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference. They rode some upsets over teams like Columbus and Cincinnati before reaching their second MLS Cup.
On Thursday, FC Dallas manager Eric Quill met with the media to discuss the upcoming playoff series with the Whitecaps. The first year manager sees his club as the underdogs and hopes that kind of thing can help his club extend their impressive form that includes one loss in their last 10 matches.
“Is there anybody that’s picking us,” questioned Quill. “I think the majority of everybody is picking Vancouver. I think everybody loves an underdog and that does take some pressure off and allows us to be more free. And our guys are okay with that. It gives us an edge and something to shoot for.”
Dallas will be back to full strength after missing Petar Musa, Logan Farrington and Ramiro last weekend due to suspensions. Quill has seen the intensity of training pick up this week with those three back in the mix as his team prepares for Sunday’s Game One.
“The week of training has been amazing. I think there’s obviously a new energy for a guy like Petar (Musa), who didn’t make the playoffs last year, there’s excitement to him,” said Quill. “The group as a whole, to go from where we were to making it in. There is a real big buy in and the intensity of training has been outstanding for the last three months.”
With Musa and Farrington out last week, Quill had to turn to rookie Sam Sarver and veteran winger Anderson Julio to guide the attack. Sarver was instrumental in picking up an early red card to Vancouver defender Mathias Laborda, as well as setting up Kaick with the game-winner in the second half. Quill knows he will have a decision to make come Sunday as to whether or not fans will see more of Sarver.
“I think you’ll see more of Sam (Sarver). I mean, I don’t discount the hot hand. But I’m not going to sit Petar, he’s a lethal weapon that we need,” explained Quill. “Up front we’ve got great weapons and we’ll come with a great game plan ready for Vancouver. But it is nice to have those three guys that were suspended because the depth was a worry of mine in the late stages of that game.”
Despite being down a man for nearly 80 minutes, the Whitecaps still controlled a majority of the Decision Day match with Dallas. Vancouver held the edge on the possession battle (nearly a 70-30 split), and outshot FC Dallas 17-11. Quill knows that the Caps will be looking for revenge on Sunday, but will still be susceptible to Dallas’ speed on the counter.
“They’re going to be there again because they throw heavy numbers forward and leave themselves susceptible to counter attacks. So that’s our style and we’re going to play that way,” explained Quill. “Now, if we can find longer chunks of time to help ourselves and not be on the defensive back foot so often, then yes, that is a goal of ours. But we’re not going to jump up to 50% possession.”
Along with the counter attack, Dallas knows they have an advantage over Vancouver in the set piece department. Last week, Osaze Urhoghide scored his second goal of the season off a corner kick from Patrickson Delgado. While the man advantage may have been at play on the goal, the Whitecaps have been vulnerable at defending set pieces in 2025.
“We feel like we have a height advantage, but it will be interesting to see who starts. We assume (Daniel) Rios is back and that is a height piece for them. But all of their set pieces and their structures we feel like that is an area we can take advantage of. We need to be really hungry in those moments when we do get corners and free kicks. It is that time of the year because those can be the margins.”
The Best-of-Three series begins on Sunday evening in Vancouver, with Game Two coming in Frisco next Saturday.
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