FC Dallas picked up their first win of the 2023 season as they downed the LA Galaxy 3-1 on Saturday night.

Jesus Ferreira opened his scoring account on the season with two goals to go along with Alan Velasco’s goal before the halftime whistle to help Dallas come from behind to win on the night.

Three minutes in FC Dallas was able to get a great chance on goal as Ferreira found an open opportunity outside the penalty box. He took one touch and then fired a shot that forced Jonathan Bond to make a diving save that hit the post.

LA had a couple of shots early on from Gaston Brugman and Efrain Alvarez that forced Maarten Paes to make some stops but it was Dejan Joveljic who got on the end of a cross from Kelvin Leerdam in the 35th minute that broke the deadlock.

FC Dallas fraught back and in the final seconds of the first half they tied the game with Velasco’s first goal of the season. Edwin Cerrillo sent a long ball over the Galaxy defense that Paul Arriola was able to get on the end of, forcing Bond off of his goal line. The Dallas captain cross quickly crossed the ball back across the goal where Velasco was able to hammer it home.

Dallas was able to take the lead in the 57th minute on a counterattack. Velasco took a long ball on the wing and then played a quick cross to Arriola who headed the ball into the penalty box onto the run of Ferreira. The Homegrown striker easily finished his first goal of the season.

Ferreira doubled his tally on the night six minutes later as Paxton Pomykal got a pass along the right flank from Ema Twumasi. Pomykal drove the ball toward the penalty box before slotting a pass behind the Galaxy defense where Ferreira was able to time his run before hitting a shot at the far post.

Arriola nearly had Dallas’ fourth of the night on an errand ball that brought Bond way off his goal line. The Dallas winger picked up the ball on the right wing as Bond retreated toward his goal but his shot would just miss the far post.

Instant Reaction: You saw just a completely different energy from FC Dallas after their goal at halftime. They had some chances in the opening 45 but continued to fail to really test Bond and the Galaxy. But it was that extra hustle by Arriola on a good ball from Cerrillo that helped set up Velasco.

That was all they needed to get going in the second half as they piled on the chances and made the most of them. We knew going into this one that all you needed to do was slot some through balls behind the Galaxy defense and they’d be easy to break down. Several good passes proved to be enough to set up Ferreira.

Man of the match: Easy call to give it to Ferreira tonight for the two goals but let’s also give a hat tip to Sebastian Lleget and Pomykal for the work in the midfield they put in tonight.

What’s next for FC Dallas: The club hits the road for the first time this season as they take on the Vancouver Whitecaps next Saturday at BC Place.