What we learned in FC Dallas’ wild 4-3 loss to NYCFC

Going into Friday’s game with New York City FC, I wasn’t anticipating a seven-goal outburst between the two clubs. NYCFC, after all, had one of the better defenses in MLS going into the match, and FC Dallas was starting to show that they could get results. 

I felt it would be a cagey match on Friday. The heat was around 100 degrees at Toyota Stadium, and that always adds some extra spice to the matches. 

The game felt drunk. Four goals in the first 20 or so minutes, followed by a goal directly before halftime and one directly after halftime. 

For FC Dallas, it was another notch in a long line of disappointing results this season at Toyota Stadium. Let’s dive into some key points from the 4-3 loss and where we may go from here.  

Wild game but lapses continue

There really is no getting around it, the defense was absolutely poor on Friday night.

Outside of the four goals that NYCFC scored, they rarely posed a big threat to Maarten Paes and his goal. But man, the four goals given up show the lapse in communication, connection and quality.

The more I watch the four goals given up, the more I am left wondering a few things.

1. What the hell has happened to Paes this season? I feel like he’s taken a few steps backward in goal both in terms of shot stopping (he was beat at the near post three times) and his footwork. Based on the chart above, only one of the goals was on a ‘good’ shot. The rest were average attempts.
2. The build up play out of the back does not work. I know that. You know that. Yet, this game NYCFC basically said “go ahead and do it,” and FC Dallas went along with them on that.
3. Will this defensive group ever be ‘on’ for 90 minutes.
4. As good as Josh Torquato’s debut was, the kid showed on Friday that he is indeed...a kid. (I’m still high on his potential though, and so should you.)

I’m sure there is way more to talk about with the defense as a unit after giving up four goals. I’ll leave it to head coach Eric Quill’s comments though about the defense for you to listen to here instead. It’s a few minutes but well worth the listen.