The downside of that was the space to spew in frustration about a team that, for a stretch to start this season, has dallied with the potential to be a contender in Major League Soccer, but with these two results, preceded by disappointing home draws, has exited such talk and drawn far closer to reality. FC Dallas now looks not far from their best in 2025 - a squad with talent that can make a run with a combination of hard work, grit, and individual brilliance. Is this a team that is outright scaring anyone? No. Is this a team that deserves respect? Sure. Is this a team that has lots of work to do? Absolutely.

Let’s rewind the week a bit.

FC Dallas 0 - Minnesota United FC 1

After two disappointing home draws, FC Dallas faced their midweek home match knowing they needed points, all three points, to reverse some of the mistakes and bad luck they had been experiencing. Ahead of the match, Eric Quill and the players verbally said all of the right things. It seemed like their mentality was on the same page, but when the whistle blew, fans’ expectation turned to frustration.

It’s not that FC Dallas didn’t generate opportunities - they had 16 shots on the night, 7 of which were blocked by shot stopper Drake Callendar. They had enough possession to make things interesting. Ultimately, though, even in the final third, both Petar Musa and Logan Farrington struggled - alongside their attacking counterparts. Once Minnesota stretched FC Dallas’ defense and got their goal, their game plan was simple - frustrate the home side. And that they did.

Yes, this game was another example of the VAR crew getting it wrong, as a clear red card was not given early in the match, which would have made life much better for FC Dallas. Still, Quill and company can’t leave it to referees to get it right to grind out results, especially ones as big as this.

“We didn’t have our typical out-of-the-gates mentality or energy. We weren’t pressing from our organized shape and sat off too much, which allowed them to dictate the tempo in the first half. They got the goal they needed, so credit to them. They also blocked a lot of shots. I thought we were sloppy,” Quill told media after the game. “Usually we’re cleaner with our passing, sharper in tight spaces and quicker to switch the point of attack, but that wasn’t who we were tonight. I told the group in the locker room that you can’t give a team 45 minutes at home when you’re not yourself and not playing to the DNA we’ve shown all season. We have to be better and fix that. It was another missed opportunity at home.”

I made a point to say last Tuesday on the podcast — these lost home points significantly lower the ceiling of this team. Yes, we flirted with the idea that this team could be top five in the Western Conference, but I think that dream died this past two weeks. The rest of the season has room for improvement, so maybe this team will make me eat my words if they can find their form again.

Seattle 2 - FC Dallas 1

Whether it’s an attempt to inject life into the squad or just rest some weary legs, FC Dallas deployed a heavily rotated squad in the Pacific Northwest. I don’t mind it. With the team struggling mentally, some veterans need a break. It’s a long season, and with some promising pieces on the roster, how do you know what you have if you don’t find opportunities for them to grow in confidence?

Sam Sarver got his first start of the season, alongside rookie Nicholas Simmonds and new signing Ran Binyamin. Lalas Abubakar also cracked the starting lineup.

The Sounders quickly took control of the game through the first half with goals from Jesus Ferreira and Jordan Morris. While FC Dallas looked feisty, the two goals had fans back in Frisco pretty nervous. That was somewhat short-lived, as Nolan Norris got his first Major League Soccer goal of his career off of a corner. The homegrown player is living up to the hype and has potential to supplant Osaze Urhoghide as the best defender on the roster.

It was a big moment for him and got FC Dallas back into the game.

In fact, over the rest of the game, despite questionable subs, this rotated squad competed well and had opportunities to equalize. Michael Collodi continues to be let down by his defense but came up big to stop Jesus Ferreira on a penalty kick. There were definite positives from the performance, giving Quill some confidence to keep rotating when other veteran players are not living up to their potential.

“Obviously disappointed about the result, but I thought we played pretty well, and I think we're going to regret seeing the couple moments that led to their goals. Those moments are fixable,” Eric Quill told media after the match. “I was proud of our mentality, our resiliency. We were going for it, we never gave up. We didn't quit. We were pushing hard and came up short tonight.”

Big Picture

These two matches don’t have me panicking, but they have poked holes in my optimism for this squad and this season. One looming question for Quill is how to build the best starting XI out of this roster. Does that mean a formation shift is due? Does that mean benching some potential World Cup hopefuls over younger guys? Does that mean dropping someone with nice skill over a player who will bring the right mentality?

Nolan Norris is the story of the season, and it’s really frustrating when Quill chooses a veteran over the homegrown who has far more value and far more upside than any other defender on the roster. Yes, Petar Musa has been exhilarating in his early-season form, but with these recent results, I don’t think there is a sliver of hope that he stays past the World Cup (except if he stops scoring altogether). I’m always rooting for a guy like Sam Sarver to punch above his weight too, and while he had some excellent moments on Saturday, the wingback positions as a whole are anyone’s guess.

The team is going to have a slower week as they travel to New Jersey to face the Red Bulls in an important matchup on Saturday.

Minnesota United FC 1 - North Texas SC 0

Swinging back to the Baby Burn, North Texas Soccer Club traveled to Minnesota on Sunday and faced a good team in the Upper Midwest. MUFC 2 are very solid defensively, and they showed it as they welcomed a North Texas side that is growing in its ability to break down opponents and create highlight reel goals. The most important takeaway for me was how hard-fought this match was, and it wasn't until the 74th minute that Minnesota United broke through.

Really, North Texas held together defensively against a stout team that generated 23 shots against the visitors. Eryk Dymora continues to grow in his leadership, and the back line played one of its better games of the season despite giving up a goal and Jonah Bigger earning a late red card. The team nearly crawled back into a tie as Slade Starnes, playing high up the field, earned a penalty kick. Unfortunately, Natty James’ effort was saved.

A disappointing night for North Texas SC, but one that also shows this team is figuring it out bit by bit.

"Immediate thoughts, obviously disappointed for the group because we put a lot of work in today. We knew that we would come here and have a difficult time against a good Minnesota team. They've got some really good footballers,” head coach John Gall told media. “In the first half, I didn't think we were very responsible with the ball. In the second half, I thought we adjusted well. I also didn't feel in the second half that we were under too much pressure. I thought defensively we were fantastic. I thought Slade Starnes was a monster today, and I thought Enzo Newman did really well.”

North Texas SC will be back in action on Saturday evening at home against Austin FC II.

We are putting plans together on our next live podcast this week, so stay tuned for a date and time to go live with us.

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In this episode, we get into some match reactions from FC Dallas’ home draw against the Galaxy. Yes, there were things we liked, but it was definitely disappointing. Two referee decisions in particular soured us. What did the refs see? Why did they not at least go to the monitor to double-check?

So far, none of us were convinced by the limited official explanations. At least one of those goals should have counted.

North Texas SC went on the road and grabbed two points. Edu Nys continues to dazzle with heroics and skill. This was a good result for this young side, who are learning as they go but finding ways to stay in the hunt.

I don’t like to ask for funds, but if you enjoy the podcast, know that donating a few bucks a month helps offset software subscription costs and enables us to create more fun content down the line.

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Hey there, we are going live tonight, adjusting our schedule a bit due to some slight vocational issues.

Tonight’s show is going to be fun, as we break down FC Dallas drawing Galaxy at home and North Texas SC going on the road to get two massive points against the Timbers.

For FC Dallas, we can ask once again what might have been. Did FC Dallas get hosed by the referees? Why didn’t they go to VAR on both denied goals? Or is this a game where the home side needs to be better?

Get ready for a MrCoov rant.

For North Texas SC, they come from behind to grab some precious away points that have them in 4th place at the moment. Edouard Nys continues to dazzle. The penalty kick shootout was especially confident as this young team grows.

Bring your comments, questions, and hot takes.

We’ll close out with some predictions.

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I always like to remind North Texas Soccer Club fans of the big picture — road points are always a good thing.

On Sunday afternoon in the Pacific Northwest, North Texas SC grabbed some big ones, taking on a defensively sound Portland Timbers 2 team that also gave minutes to some senior roster guys. Those are never a good combination of factors: being on the road, facing a mature opponent, and having to break down a tough defensive unit. But North Texas got the job done, with the Baby Burn finding that extra gear late to steal two points.

After taking the lead from an own goal, scored after Edouard Nys led Diego Garcia in on the left side, North Texas SC were confident of getting points. Sure, a harsh penalty kick was called minutes later, one that the refs should have looked at again, but Eryk Dymora, growing in leadership in recent weeks, got his hand to it to push it away from the goal. It was a huge moment, a boost to this team.

Of course, despite a flurry of incredible opportunities, including shots from Marlon Luccin and Natty James, the lead would remain 1-0 until the Timbers 2 mounted a furious second-half comeback. Their first came via a brain-fart kind of moment as the back line lost track of a Timbers striker, who received the ball and coolly equalized. A second penalty kick was given on a poor challenge by North Texas, and this time, Dymora couldn’t find a hand to it.

Suddenly, what was a 1-0 victory was shaping up to be a disappointing defeat — until Edouard Nys decided otherwise.

The phenom received the ball at the top of the box, made a slashing run, and found the skill to lash a ball with the outside of his left foot. The massive goal put Nys back into the golden boot race and grabbed a full point on the road for the young team.

North Texas SC would go on to win the penalty kick shootout, making five of five shots. Dymora would deny the Timbers on their first attempt, capping a strong performance from the goalkeeper.

There are so many fun threads to follow out of this match.

Of course, as I started, road points are always good and make up for dropped points at home, especially last weekend’s disappointment against Sporting Kansas City 2.

Edouard Nys is a real star in MLS Next Pro, and the league would be wise to match his play by promoting his story about choosing this pathway to potential first-team minutes. With FC Dallas looking more and more for attacking midfielders to complement their attacking prowess, Nys has a clear avenue to rise up the ladder and contribute at the next level if he keeps this up and improves. One note - after Nys scored the late equalizer, he was the first rushing toward the goal to grab the ball and look for another. What a spirit.

The most interesting nugget after the match was head coach John Gall acknowledging that his young side is generally facing opponents throughout this campaign that are bigger and stronger. Yes, North Texas has guys like Slade Starnes and Jonah Biggar, but the rest of the team tends to be on the smaller side. That adds extra complications, challenging them to be cleaner and more precise with their passing and control.

One mantra repeated by the coaching staff and players is about being comfortable with the uncomfortable.

“We knew that coming here in Portland was going to be a challenge. It was a really strong team. They had some first-team guys playing with them today. We knew it was going to be a challenge. We were really happy with the first half - the goal with some attacking energy and mentality,” Gall told Afterburn. “We knew Portland were the kind of team to put a lot of defenders on the back line. I kind of felt like we had enough in the first half to get a second goal. Obviously, you go in at halftime, talked about a few things to clean up. All of a sudden, we allowed their No. 9 to get free inside the box. They equalized, and it changed the game. One of the things we harped on this week was enjoying uncomfortable moments. So happy for Edu to get that goal near the end.”

Dymora concurred. “Like John said, being comfortable being uncomfortable. I feel like that was the game today. Lots of moments when we were on the back foot. I think we came up big. To get two points away from home, I think, is big.”

While we all wish North Texas SC could just be dominant and run away with things, this is a team still on the rise. They sit in 4th place, buoyed by two PK shootout wins. Yes, the remaining schedule is going to be tough, and they’ve missed Nicholas Simmonds, who made his first-team debut last weekend. Give yourself continued reason to be excited about how they compete and find a way to get results with a much more balanced attack this year.

On Saturday night, FC Dallas and their fans were treated to another treat, in a sense.

For 90+ minutes, two solid soccer teams went toe to toe, generating gobs of chances, exhibiting fesity physical football, and pushing hard until the final whistle.

The frustration, however, belongs to FC Dallas, settling for a home draw for the second straight week despite holding a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half. Petar Musa did Musa things, grabbing sole control of the Major League Soccer golden boot race. His first was the kind of mistake all too many defenders have made by going half-speed against the Croatian international. You simply can’t do that if you want to limit his damage.

If the game could have been frozen there, FC Dallas would have been far happier, getting a big home win against a Los Angeles Galaxy team that hasn’t looked like a contender.

And then, well, the Galaxy took advantage of mistakes of their own and quality that still exists on their roster, especially in the form of Joseph Paintsil. His second goal, tying the game, was just class, but it also reflected an FC Dallas defense that keeps making crucial mistakes at the wrong time.

2-2.

Now, with each home draw, we can begin to wonder whether FC Dallas is a contender. Simply put, good teams win their home games. Sure, good teams can drop the occasional draw because they face an opponent who is on the upswing or experience the randomness of the bounce. For FC Dallas, while maintaining an unbeaten home record is decent, this is the fourth home draw of the season. As points on the road get more difficult to come by, those dropped points will end up weighing heavily on final positioning later in the year.

First, though, let’s acknowledge that the referees bear a heavy load for the disappointment on Saturday night. FC Dallas had two goals called back, both of which appeared obvious scores on replay. However, the VAR team did not ask the referee to take a second look. Yes, you can argue there are some extenuating circumstances for each - FC Dallas players were potentially in “compromising” or “interfering” positions on the plays. While you are welcome to make that argument, the replays aren’t conclusive that it was true in either circumstance.

On the first goal, Farrington was clearly offside, but he had stopped and was not participating in the play. Musa, meanwhile, was clearly onside as he received the ball and slotted it home.

On the second, yes, Ibeagha went to ground in the box, but the blast from Kaick didn’t even touch Urhoghide, instead ricocheting off a Galaxy defender. I’m not sure how Ibeagha interfered.

Even if true, the referee should have looked at both replays. Take the time and get it right. Use the tools at your disposal. Show fans you want to be transparent about the reasoning.

I am not one to criticize referees. Yes, they get calls right and wrong. It’s going to happen. I’ve said it before, as silly as it may sound, that if you are going to criticize referees publicly, you also need to publicly thank them for good performances. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a coach praise an officiating crew after a match in a press conference, but it would be pretty cool to start doing so, which might improve the conversation about officiating.

But regardless - the referees got this one wrong.

Just go to VAR. Why not?

Do I place the entire blame on officiating for this draw? No. FC Dallas had plenty of opportunities to find a go-ahead goal in the second half. They didn’t take their chances.

That leads me to our larger frustration with this team.

FC Dallas may have one of the most talented squads in their team history. Petar Musa is simply on another level, and if he can stay with the team until winter, which I hope he does, he could play himself into MVP conversations. Valiente is an exciting midfielder who is living up to his billing. Osaze Urhoghide delights fans with his attitude and personality.

But right now, these uneven performances are wasting this moment. I don’t know if Quill is overthinking lineups or finding it difficult to balance personalities and expectations. I don’t know if he sees something else during the week than what fans see on Saturdays, but there are players on the squad who aren’t putting in performances worthy of their positions and minutes. They need a fire lit… and soon.

Both goals came against veteran defenders who need to be better. Shaq Moore was too slow to react to Gabriel Pec finding space and getting the Galaxy back into it. Osaze and Deedson let their team down on the second. These are all guys with significant minutes under their belt. If they want to be a defense that can compete against top-tier talent, they need to be better.

Deedson, despite scoring a goal in the previous week, has not been a revelation at left wing-back. He is a question mark on this team.

Everyone knows Shaq Moore has oodles of experience, but my hunch is that Quill feels pressured to start Moore since he is also the team captain, even if his form hasn’t been necessarily great or if he even fits in the lineup.

I’m not sold on Herman Johansson. He’s not a bad player, but he is not the difference maker we had hoped.

Nolan Norris, meanwhile, was benched for this match, despite being one of the better in-form defenders right now.

While the attack has been more than good enough, the defense has not been up to par, and it’s not simply going to be about being “dogs” out there. Quill needs to find the group of starters who will get the job done, even if it means making formation tweaks to unlock their best skills, benching leaders, or giving young players time to grow into the positions they are needed in.

I’m not going to belabor this point, but last week, the team missed Valiente to start the match. It’s one of those head-scratching moments when either Quill is overthinking or underthinking things. Especially if our defense is going to be a bit porous, why not choose offense every time?

No, I’m not hitting the panic button on this team. They are going to be in the post-season hunt, and there are plenty of points to be had down the stretch. We have every reason to enjoy every game to come and expect good things. They can get a lot better too, especially as a guy like Santi Moreno gets fit and ready to contribute more.

But fans are right to feel the frustration and hope after another home draw, especially when for the first time in a few years, this team looks to be damn good.

We start the show by looking at FC Dallas’ draw versus St Louis. Was this just a poor start for FC Dallas, a blip in concentration in that first 45? Or did St Louis just outplay and out-coach our home side? Quill said after the match that he didn’t recognize his squad. We hear his audio but spend time doing our best to frame this tough result and look at the positives.

For North Texas SC, maybe they got punished for being a little over-confident after crushing Sporting Kansas City 2 the weekend before. Regardless, a late goal stunned them, but for a young team, there are lessons to be learned. We are still high on this talented team as they try to put it all together.

As usual, the show closes with match predictions.

Thanks for all of your support, and yes, shout out to all of our supporters and our amazing crew.

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FC Dallas was supposed to beat St Lous City SC, but that first half? Eric Quill said he did not recognize this team.

Deedson’s first goal and the squad’s leader was short-lived as St Louis stunned the home side with an equalizer.

Is this our first warning sign? What went well, and what went wrong?

North Texas SC expected to trounce the visiting Sporting Kansas City 2 team but gave up a late equalizer, exposing the youth of this team.

Credit where credit is due - they won the penalty kick shootout quite confidently.

Still, Gall was frustrated but chalked this up to a learning moment for this team. Natty James, meanwhile, is hat, with 4 goals in two matches.

See you at 8 PM CST. Send in your comments and questions.

Coming off a dominant road win over DC United, FC Dallas simply did not play up to its standard against a tough St. Louis side. Their first-half intensity wasn’t quite there. St Louis City, despite being an inferior team, looked a step faster, more eager to win balls and spray the ball forward into dangerous areas. Dallas didn’t really find their footing until late in the first half with a couple of dangerous moments.

The second half showcased a stronger performance. Petar Musa, pressing high, received the ball in an advanced position, turned, and placed a perfectly weighted ball to Deedson, who slotted his first MLS goal home. But the celebration would be short-lived, as St Louis, happy to possess the ball and work it wide time and time again, found a cross that met a well-timed run by a defender for the equalizer. With subs and renewed energy, FC Dallas were a bit unlucky not to get another goal, including a penalty shout. As the home side pushed hard for a winner, they also gave the visitors a couple of strong opportunities to steal something. Collodi, Nolan Norris, and company found enough to stymy their efforts.

What do we take from this result?

FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill expressed his frustrations from the performance.

“I just spoke to the group, and I didn’t recognize us in the first 45 minutes. The team you’ve been watching had not lost its mentality in any half this season, but we did tonight. They (St. Louis) were stronger in challenges, won more aerial duels and had the better edge. Credit to them, they came in with something to prove and showed it,” Quill told media. “We’ll look at it, be honest and learn from it. We have high standards and we know what we want to be this season. Nights like this aren’t us, and that’s why it’s frustrating. The group isn’t satisfied with a point. They understand the importance of three, and I expect them to respond next week.”

On the bright side of things, this was a solidly entertaining match. Both teams were up for the game, even if FC Dallas was not as sharp as they would have liked. The physicality, the intensity, the determination - both teams showed it. I was on the edge of my seat, willing FC Dallas to find a winner.

We also learn from these performances that Nolan Norris has locked down his starting spot. This may have been one of his strongest overall performances, including a huge save to prevent St Louis from going ahead. His growth is evident, and his personality and fire are visible in his play.

Petar Musa remains a difference maker and was really unlucky not to get a chance to take the golden boot lead tonight. I think his assist was classy. The goal will be a boost to Deedson, who has not seen a ton of minutes for FC Dallas so far.

On the question mark side of things, we first fear about Ramiro’s injury. Rumors are that it may take him out of the picture for a bit, as he was stretchered off after a collision in the first half. Kaick came in as a welcome relief with his energy, which helped turn things around for FC Dallas.

The rest of the midfield has question marks. Why didn’t Quill start Valiente in this one? When will Moreno be ready to go a full 90? What is up with Christian Cappis, who was a big reason the team wasn’t sharp? The dude was such a big signing last season, but his play has dipped a bit these past couple of games. My hope is that Quill will take some chances with a more attacking midfield structure in the coming weeks.

Finally, we saw the downside of Logan Farrington. So far this season, Farrington has flirted with being a legit MLS starting striker, and then will have a game where he makes mistakes, can’t hold up the ball, and just diminishes his team’s progress. After such a great game last week, this was a disappointment. Is this just him growing as a professional? Or are we seeing him as a squad piece striker who can give you great minutes in spots?

FC Dallas will have a week to regroup before they welcome the Los Angeles Galaxy and try to secure a full three points at home.

On a warm evening in Arlington, North Texas settled for a draw and extra point against SKC 2 after a late equalizer from the visitors spoiled an otherwise dominant performance. NTSC confidently won the penalty shootout to secure the consolation point after the final whistle. However, the team will be disappointed to waste a brace from Natty James, his 4th goal in consecutive matches.

Yes, North Texas walked away disappointed from not getting the outright win in a match that they largely controlled for the full 90 minutes, out-possessing and out-attacking. In the second half, the home side dominated, creating more opportunities and a chance that led to a penalty kick, which was unfortunately blocked. You could see the frustration clearly in the team’s body language.

To SKC 2’s credit, the away team was content to play defensively, absorb pressure, and not make it easy for North Texas’ offense, especially after equalizing late in the first half. Their last gasp goal came at the cusp of stoppage time, and it gutted North Texas. You can argue they were lucky to get a point on the road, but the result just shows how nothing will be given in MLS Next Pro this year.

There are lessons to learn from this one.

“I think it was a similar story last week. It’s a good team. They've got some really good technical players; they do a good job with the football. We scored early in the game, then I felt we had a couple of chances that we should have scored. When you allow teams to stay close in this game of football, bad things usually happen. So that was the case,” North Texas head coach John Gall said after the match. “Obviously, they had two shots on goal and scored two goals tonight. And unfortunately, we didn't do the things we needed to do in the last third of the field to put the game away. We dominated the game, dominated possession, dominated percentage, number of passes and all that stuff. But at the end of the day, football is about putting the ball in the back of the net, and we didn't do that tonight. When you drop a point, it's disappointing. But we also gained two points, so we certainly want to take some positives out of that.”

The big loss was wasting two goals from Natty James, the Trinidad and Tobago international, who has taken time to adjust to North Texas. What is key is that North Texas is employing him higher up the patch to put him in more dangerous situations. It paid off for the second week in a row.

“Just before the international break, we had a chat with Natty just before he left with Trinidad and Tobago. He’s a full international with his country, which helps his confidence, his experience and all those things,” Gall said about the striker. “He was a little bit low going into the international break, just not being able to score or get assists because he's the type of kid that, like any forward, he wants to get those statistics, he wants to get on the score sheet because he wants to help his team. Last week was a real breakout week for him. It was great to see him with a lot of confidence. And today, he showed quality in the first goal and then the ingenuity with the second goal.”

While the result didn’t go where North Texas wanted, there remain a ton of positives with this team. And really, the season is early. For a young side like this, there is room to grow and improve. We’ll be watching to see how the squad responds in the coming weeks.

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Earlier in the year, I wrote a quick primer about North Texas Soccer Club, and central to that, I highlighted some questions that face this young side in a season that brought lots of a change. For example:

Can this squad, mostly rebuilt, find a way to grind out matches and preserve wins? Can they find consistency, especially at home?

Obviously, North Texas faced a ton of questions this year, chief among them was how to get more offensive production out of the squad. Last year, when Sam Sarver wasn’t on the pitch, North Texas struggled to score goals. Their offensive weapons were just not good enough, so it wasn’t a surprise that the team went out and convinced Edouard Nys, Natty James, and Nicholas Simmonds to help right the ship.

So far, the project is working pretty well.

Has it been perfect? No. The two losses on the road against Austin FC 2 and Dynamo 2 highlighted that this is a young team who have a lot to learn. The consistency is not there yet and will take time. The game against Austin was just weird with that extreme wind, but Dynamo are as good as any team North Texas will face. The loss revealed a sizable gap between the teams.

But that is a gap that can be narrowed over the course of the season.

Last week, North Texas took care of business with a thorough 4-1 demolishing of Sporting Kansas City 2 on the road. It was a confident performance, a boost that this young team needed. We mentioned on the pod that while SKC 2 is hardly a good team, you got to pick up the easy wins when you can. Every performance like that helps this roster grow together, trust each other, and raise their ceiling.

This evening, Sporting Kansas City 2 stroll into Choctaw Stadium, and North Texas will be relishing the chance to sweep their opponents so early in the season. From two straight losses to two straight wins? It can happen.

It will happen.

Sure, North Texas must not over-estimate any opponent, including a Sporting Kansas City team that has nothing left to lose and will be smarting from their drubbing at home, but this is a game to build on the stellar performance from last week and shift it to another gear. I don’t want them to get too greedy, but you have got to win this one.

Here is what I will be watching for:

• With Natty James getting a brace and Edouard Nys getting his 5th of the year, the attack is lively. We’ve seen that Nicholas Simmonds can do damage. Sam Sedeh is still young and hasn’t quite looked as dangerous — but he has time. Other contributors are knocking on the door. Despite some very good performances, there is a lot of room for this offense to click, especially with wing backs getting more active. I want to see if James can get another goal tonight, since he has been up and down so far this season.

• We highlighted on the podcast that the goalkeeping situation isn’t quite there yet. It’s no reason to panic, as it took JT Harms most of the season to find his voice and claim his leadership role last year. Could Eryk Dymora be on a similar trajectory? If not, who else will Gall give an opportunity to?

• Despite last week’s win and a few guys being clear week in and out starters (Nys, Swann, Contreras), there are a ton of spots on this roster that can be staked down. I think that competition is what North Texas SC needs over the course of the season, as it pushes these young players every week. That there are guys who haven’t locked down spots yet can also explain some of the inconsistency. Let’s see this crew get closer to that lock down starting XI tonight and in the coming weeks.

The match kicks off tonight at 7:30 PM CST and is free to watch over on YouTube.

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A few show notes:

• We’ll start with reactions from FC Dallas’ road win at DC.

• Was this the right kind of balance, offensively and defensively, that FC Dallas is going to strike over the course of the season?

• Which individual performance stood out? 7th goal for Musa. Farrington with his 4th on the year. Osaze and Delgado get their first of the year.

• What role will Santi Moreno, who made his debut, fill on this team?

• For North Texas SC, we’ll get some game reactions and also dive into what we learned about this team.

• Nys: 5th goal of the season. James with brace (who has looked dangerous but not quite put it together yet). Ospina with his first for North Texas.

• The critical issue for North Texas? They must find consistency.

• We’ll close out the show with predictions for upcoming matches.

Thanks for all of your support!

Hey, fellow FCD nerds, let’s have some fun tonight.

FC Dallas trounced DC United 4-0.

North Texas SC grabbed a massive 4-1 win boost in Kansas City.

Both road wins were deserved and needed. For FC Dallas, the win keeps them in the hunt and makes up for some dropped home points earlier in the season. The bigger story is how comprehensive and balanced the action was. A clean sheet? Yes. Lots of goal scoring? Double yes. This team looks confident right now, and they are in strong form. St Louis must be nervous.

For North Texas SC, the road win gives this young side a big boost of confidence after a couple of miserable results. Natty James led the way with a brace. Overall, while SKC 2 is not a great time by any stretch, you need to stack some points together as this side builds chemistry and culture.

Here are a few questions we will hit tonight:

• We’ll start with reactions from FC Dallas’ road win at DC.

• Was this the right kind of balance, offensively and defensively, that FC Dallas is going to strike over the course of the season?

• Which individual performance stood out?

• What role will Santi Moreno, who made his debut, fill on this team?

• For North Texas SC, we’ll get some game reactions and also dive into what we learned about this team.

• The critical issue for North Texas? They must find consistency.

• We’ll close out the show with predictions for upcoming matches.

Go live with us. Send in your comments and questions. See you at 7 PM CST.

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After a couple of weeks with international action and the arrival of new DP Santi Moreno, FC Dallas flew into Washington, D.C. on a mission — to play the complete game they are capable of.

Yes, as 2026 has unfolded, FC Dallas has shown fans that this team is ready to pick up where it left off. This is a squad that can bring intensity, teamwork, clutch goals, and a mentality that will put them into contention. In a raucous rivalry win over Houston, they got plenty of goals. In a defensively stout performance against Nashville, they blanked one of the best offensive teams in the league.

But have they done it all at once?

On Holy Saturday, they did.

“We talked about that we’ve given up six goals in the last two games, and that’s not us,” Quill said after the match. “We really wanted to focus on who we were behind the ball. We know we have quality going forward, those concepts and those things are there. The collective behind the ball, making sure that we’re not giving up big chances on the road, giving them life. I thought the second goal, right before the half, was a really key goal for us. We dropped a two goal lead last time against Houston, and we came out front-footed again, which I was really proud of, because I challenged them with that mentality to stay front-footed and not conserve the lead, but keep going for more.”

In their drubbing of DC United, FC Dallas found the perfect balance. Their defense stood up ably, limiting the home side to 3 shots on target, including a clutch save from goalkeeper Michael Collodi, who certainly had some moments against Houston that he wished he could do over. He was in the right place at the right time in this one.

Goal-wise, FC Dallas generated 8 shots on target, and they were super efficient in putting them away. Logan Farrington is an assassin when he gets to stretch the defense, his first touch deftly bringing in a perfect ball over the top from Ramiro. Patrickson Delgado got his first of the year with an unsaveable free kick from deep. Osaze Urhoghide headed in another off a set-piece cross from Valiente (an area the team has statistically wanted to improve). Finally, Petar Musa did Musa-stuff by getting into dangerous spots and slotting home a blocked shot.

From start to finish, this was a confident, well-rounded performance that gives fans every right to feel the hype about this team.

Granted, no one is going to place DC United in the same category as Los Angeles FC or Nashville as a contender, but away games are never easy. DC United may be rebuilding, but they have talent in spots. Even up with a 3 goal lead, FC Dallas could have taken the foot off the gas and let the home side claw back into it. They didn’t. They saw it through.

In a post-game video, speaking to his team, Quill proudly acknowledged all the guys who kept fighting for the full 90 minutes. He’s got the buy-in. Something special is brewing in Frisco.

A few other notes:

• Santi Moreno made his debut from the bench. There is no need to rush the new DP signing into the lineup, as the team has good camaraderie that you don’t want to spoil too quickly. It will be curious to see how quickly he integrates and who he might displace in the lineup once he is ready to go. Still, in his limited action, he looked good.

• Getting a nice lead opens the door for bench guys to get minutes, which is a nice gift for the number of players who deserve a look and an opportunity to gain more experience. Of course, Quill has to find the balance of preserving the lead and also making sure those guys come in ready to work. No problem on Saturday night.

• FC Dallas will be back at home to face St Louis this weekend, with every opportunity to get another win and make it three in a row. St. Louis is also a team in the midst of some rebuilding, but the big storyline will be consistency. Will we see FC Dallas build on this road win?

• Reminder: despite some dropped home minutes, road wins, especially against Eastern Conference teams, are a perfect way to make up points in a long campaign.

After a quiet international break, marked by the USA’s anemic performances in a couple of friendlies and Sweden qualifying for the World Cup, FC Dallas is on the road in our nation’s capital.

DC United is a club in disarray. Yes, their stadium, Audi Field, is pretty decent. My last game there reminded me how much I dig the new, more vertical stadium seating, as it helps fans, even in the cheap seats, feel closer to the action. Being able to buy freshly-made pupusas is also a solid bonus.

But in truth, DC United should hardly be at FC Dallas’ quality.

Does that mean it’s a gimme? Heck, no.

Back in our last podcast before the break, our crew was in consensus that this should be a win for FC Dallas. Whether it is a 2-1 victory or a 3-0 beatdown, though, there is room for disagreement. I was paying attention to how our international call-ups did as a signal for the form our key stars might bring into the match. Musa, for example, played well for Croatia, so he should remain in fine form. Herman Johansson continues to acclimate to MLS quality of play. I don’t think the team is going to fall off from where they left us in a big rivalry win over Houston.

Still, don’t discount DC United from putting together a strong defensive performance that could make life difficult for FC Dallas.

But here are the three questions to watch for tonight —

Will Logan Farrington and Petar Musa start together?

In an embarrassment of riches for Eric Quill, Farrington and Musa both make cases for the start. For Musa, if he is ready to go, you obviously can’t scratch him. Farrington is tricky because of his most recent performance. You can argue that he is a solid MLS backup at striker, but he is already verging on exceeding his goal tally from 2025. You’ve got to figure out a way to get him on the field.

Basically, Quill needs to figure out - am I still bringing Farrington along as a potential Musa replacement based on World Cup action? Is he a starter and he and Musa need to be on the field together? We know they are a deadly duo. Dropping one, though, means an extra midfield, maybe even newly signed Santiago Moreno. Keeping both means benching someone else, which might help balance the field.

Quill has shown a willingness to try to find that balance, so I’m not quite sure what to expect… but my hunch is that Farrington and Musa start tonight. Long ball party!

What will Santi Moreno’s role be?

I like this signing a lot - it fits FC Dallas’ MO as far as picking up intriguing assets on the cheap. He does take up a DP slot, which may not be the best roster-building move. But… it’s temporary, just a loan. Moreno is going to get a chance to prove he is a difference maker, and if he plays in the middle alongside Valiente, I am very intrigued.

In all likelihood, Moreno comes off the bench tonight as he acclimates to the team.

I am just curious about what Santi will bring to this team.

Nolan Norris needs to start.

For whatever reason, Quill did not turn to wonderkid Norris to start the season on the back line, but it’s clear that Norris brings quality to this lineup. His passing technique and vision make him extra dangerous. I love how he can slice past lines with a well-placed ball, something this squad needs. Is he as good a defender as a veteran like Ibeagha? No. But he could be, given the time.

He needs the time.

With other veterans healthy, maybe Norris goes back to the bench, but I think that would be a mistake. Quill needs to build for the future with this squad, and Norris is a difference maker.

I’ll be live-tweeting the game tonight, so I hope you can follow along over on X or Bluesky.

While we anticipated Petar Musa, in dominant form as expected, to receive a call-up to Croatia, our boys from Frisco are well represented internationally.

Garret Melcer pointed out that FC Dallas has eight players heading out of town over the next couple of weeks:

Who are we especially watching for big performances? Who is feeling the pressure to perform ahead of the World Cup? Who needs to use this opportunity to build confidence?

FYI - FC Dallas lists where and when to watch some of their players in friendlies and a key UEFA play-off.

Petar Musa is obviously in such strong form and gets to step into the Croatian national team at the right time to prove his case as a lock for a World Cup spot, even if that means he serves as a key bench player who can come in and help his side push for a late goal. Just look at what he did coming in after halftime for FC Dallas’ come-from-behind victory over Houston. He’s a game changer. Every national team needs game changers. He should get at least one start out of a fun pair of matches against Columbia and Brazil.

Herman Johansson may not have been in good form like Musa, but getting a big assist last weekend is a nice boost of confidence for the Swedish international. There was a hint, per a post-game interview in Los Angeles, that his spot is in contention as Sweden begins to narrow down their roster. Of course, first, they need to get in by winning a massive matchup against Ukraine. Will he start? This will be a fun one to watch.

Deedson has yet to get major minutes for FC Dallas. He’s a curious player because he actually plays quite well on the international stage for Haiti. Haiti is already in the World Cup, so two games against Iceland and Tunisia are a good opportunity for the squad to prep. My hope is that Deedson gets a lot of minutes, looks good, and, if nothing else, becomes a transfer target if FC Dallas decides he isn’t a long-term piece for the club.

On the youth side, Ran Binyamin's call-up to the Israeli U21 squad is fascinating. Hopefully, he can use the opportunity to get into some rhythm. More importantly, I love Nolan Norris stepping into the US U21 team after a couple of starts with FC Dallas. What’s been fun about Nolan’s time with the international teams is that he always comes back better, with a bit more confidence. He is poised to continue to grow with each minute.

Who are you looking to watch?

1 - Game reactions

2 - Three-goal meltdown - what do we make of it? Warning sign?

3 - Who was man of the match? Musa? Farrington? Valiente?

4 - What did we learn? Aka… is Valiente legit? YES! Also a little Santi Moreno talk. What will he add to the roster?

5 - North Texas SC loss at Dynamo 2

6 - International window expectations: who is going to have a strong break?

7 - A little early match predictions for FC Dallas traveling to play DC United

Hey, hey, that win at home over in-state rivals feels awfully nice.

Go live at 8 PM CST with the Afterburn Soccer crew and get our reactions, our hot takes, and what it means for the rest of the season.

Big topics for the night:

• Game reactions of FC Dallas’ 4-3 win over Houston Dynamo

• What do we make of the three goal meltdown via defense, mistakes, and poor goalkeeping?

• Musa once again is a massive difference maker, but is Logan Farrington the man of the match?

We also will touch upon North Texas SC’s loss down in Houston.

Lots to get to ahead of a big international break.

See you shortly!

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In their opening match on the road against a very good Real Monarchs side, though, North Texas made a bit of a statement, grabbing a draw behind some stellar attacking spells and a debut performance from Edouard Nys. Nys would go on to claim a hat trick at home the next week. Still, a draw on the road against one of the better Next Pro teams got our attention.

Case in point - Real Monarchs have grabbed eight points since that bout, including a 5-0 demolition of Sporting Kansas City 2 on the road and a more recent 3-2 win against the Whitecaps 2. That draw looks great in retrospect.

But, after a solid home win over Rapids 2, North Texas hasn’t looked as promising. The season is early, and their two most recent road games have involved some weird circumstances (windy Austin) and solid opponents. There is no reason to panic, but there are questions.

The most important one is formation - what is the best formation for this squad?

On Saturday, against Dynamo 2, North Texas SC shook things up after the dismal but wind-ridden match against Austin by giving Ricky Louis his first start with the team. Louis had a stellar preaseason with the senior side, but he clearly needs some seasoning as he adapts to a new role. Enzo Newman also continued his comeback campaign, and Augusto Alvaro got precious minutes. All of this is to be expected.

But this formation for North Texas? It was not a winner, and it took me a bit to make sense of it.

Don’t rub your eyes - the media team are good people and do a difficult job. I assumed on first glance that Louis would get an opportunity at wing back, opposite Enzo Newman, but the TV feed gave us the following which was better:

Head coach John Gall obviously has some leeway in how to line up the guys, rather than settle on the senior team’s formation, but the lineup highlighted the pressure he probably faces to get a variety of guys on the field but also build team chemistry.

In the end, though, the formation didn’t work. North Texas SC had a decent enough first half, noted by Gall after the match, but they really struggled in the midfield. It could have just been a bad day where the ball wasn’t landing right, but turnovers killed North Texas’ momentum over and over. Nicholas Simmonds was sorely missed, as the promising striker helped in the first two matches with solid holdup play that allowed Natty James and Nys to advance the ball into dangerous areas.

The key question that Gall needs to answer - what is the best formation for this side that can slot in senior team players who need minutes but help the young midfield get more confidence?

Flowing from that, the defense, which should be a stout group, has given up seven goals so far in 4 games. That’s not a recipe for success at any level of the beautiful game. Is the issue goalkeeper leadership? Is it finding the right pairing of defenders on the back line? Is it just patience?

Slade Starnes subbed in during the second half - but in the midfield. For me, I really want to see him be the lock down leader on that back line, a task he is well suited for.

Obviously, there is plenty of time to figure it out, and two road losses in a row is going to happen. The Houston Dynamo 2 are also an excellent squad and confidently pressed and wore down North Texas. Chalk it up to a learning experience, but fans will want to see the team start building some consistency going forward.

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This week has been a long one, long enough that I’ve barely had time to think about FC Dallas since our podcast on Monday.

In that podcast, and really on repeat so far this season, I’ve been looking for FC Dallas to finally put together a complete game in 2026, with a defense that is stout and well-organized paired with the blistering attack we have witnessed. We’ve seen one and the other, but we haven’t seen both at the same time. Surely, with the lowly Houston Dynamo rolling into Frisco on Saturday night, fans would get the taste of the real FC Dallas experience?

Not quite - but what we got was still a helluva of a lot of fun.

Within the first fifteen minutes, Logan Farrington, recently benched as head coach Eric Quill tinkered with the match-ups and formations, had scored two goals. Both were vintage Farrington. The first came off of a Shaq Moore long ball over the top that Logan, in the way he does his magic, sprinted on to, deftly handled with his foot, and then settled to the right to slash beyond the keeper. His second was setup by a scintillating sequence with Valiente, who is a legit big time signing for FC Dallas, serving a precision line-cutting ball onto Herman Johannson as he overlapped his defender and cut inside. Farrington received the cut-back cross and slashed it in goal.

For the moment, fans in stadium and on social media lit up. Where we going to be fortunate enough to witness a good old-fashioned ass beating against an in-state rival? FC Dallas appeared to be in control… until they weren’t.

The next three goals by Houston felt like a slow motion nightmare, just a series of miscues, bad passes, poor goalkeeping, and overall shambolic display of defense. That pit in the stomach was back. Were we in for more disappointment?

Quill acknowledged in the post-game comments to media that the team just let off the gas a bit after the opening two goals.

But FC Dallas got their feet back under them, and despite nearly getting an equalizer late in the first half, came back out in the second with a renewed focus and their not-so-secret weapon - Petar Musa. Musa, who did not start because of a minor knock, apparently shook off his physical limitations, because the Croatian international again showed why he has the potential to surpass David Ferreira as one of the great designated player signings for the Burn. Musa turned the game on its head.

The first goal birthed via Musa getting in behind a slowly wilting Dynamo back line, tracing the end line and serving up a cross that fortuitously bounced off Dynamo playmaker Duane Holmes and into the net. While the referee’s flag for offside was raised immediately, VAR ticked to FC Dallas’ favor when replay showed that Musa was well onside. He doesn’t get credit for the goal, but Dallas had drawn level.

His second came off yet another spectacular cross from Valiente — this guy is legit — as Musa got to the wicked cross and practically crushed it in with his sheer force of will — or his feet, if you like. He turned and celebrated in front of adoring fans, deservedly for giving FC Dallas its second lead of the night and the goal it would need to claim all three points at home.

By the way, give credit to Logan Farrington for forcing Houston down a man moments before - just an all around tour de force from the striker.

Before I shift to the big picture, let’s just acknowledge that Michael Collodi did not have his best performance in an FC Dallas kit so far, and for all of the hype as a potential goalkeeper of the year, it’s not been exactly easy going for the homegrown. And yet, he came up with a clutch save late to deny Houston, down to ten men, a nice little mental reset for him. Let’s hope tonight was just a learning moment, which happens in this wild and beautiful game.

Quill was once again proud of his team after the game - of their fight, of their willingness to buy in. The head coach even jumped into the Rhine to celebrate the rivalry victory among exuberant fans, all signs that despite the roller coaster ride of this match, the positive vibes are flowing. There is potential in the air.

FC Dallas now have eight points after five matches, not a bad start to the year considering who they have played. For example, while we drew Nashville at home, did you see what Nashville did to Orlando? That’s a damn good point.

Did we see that complete game across the board tonight? No, but it feels like it’s coming as this team builds for a campaign that looks more and more promising.

Big Picture?

• Nolan Norris is really good, and he adds such an intriguing passing ability from his spot at left center back. He’s only going to get better, even if he makes a few mistakes because of his potential to create instant attacks from crossing out on the left or bypassing the midfield. He must start.

• Logan Farrington, with his two goals, again makes the case for a start, but it remains a challenge to how work both Musa and Farrington in together. Which midfielder do you bench in return?

• Valiente has quickly settled in to Frisco. The attacking playmaker was not seen as a big time signing, more like a budget buy or even a nice squad rotation piece, but he has crushed those expectations with his physical play, creative passing ability, and vision on the field. It’s still early but what a home run signing.

• Herman Johansson hasn’t exactly shined in the past couple of games, so tonight will be a nice confidence boost for him. He got an assist and nearly a goal to his name. He should build on this.

• Petar Musa is a legend. That is all.

FC Dallas have a week off before they travel to DC United for a very winnable matchup ahead of Easter.

Thanks for gathering with us as we navigate the ups and downs of a 2026 season in Major League Soccer with FC Dallas and North Texas SC.

We hit the major topics in this one:

• Reactions to FC Dallas’ draw at home to San Diego FC

• Petar Musa’s hat trick - is FC Dallas doing him right?

• North Texas’ windy affair down in Austin

• Match predictions ahead of rivalry week

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