A Wild, Crazy, and Disappointing Night: FC Dallas Draw RSL at Home

As someone who has followed FC Dallas for a long time, last night was a fair result, even if it was extremely disappointing. Read more.

On a hot late May evening, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake played to a 3-3 draw in Frisco.

If I could go back in time and ask if a draw at home against the “best” team in the Major League Soccer without a full-strength squad coming off of a midweek game would be a decent result, especially with the way Dallas has been playing, some of you would have said, fine. We’ll take it.

But what if I told you that FC Dallas was up 3-0 at one point? That Paul Arriola, coming off of injury, scored his first of the season? That RSL’s goalkeeper appeared to forget how to play for stretches of the match? That Dallas would be leading up to the final kick of the game and only came away with a point?

Yes, a different take would be needed.

This is one where a draw feels like a loss.

FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez opened his post-game press conference with this brutal statement, “It’s unacceptable.”

• Yes, to be up in such a commanding position and then give away a match that might have been a turning point for their less than ideal season.

• Yes, to be up in such a commanding position and not score another, despite plenty of opportunities.

• Yes, to be up and fumble away the match on moments when your squad lost concentration, when youngsters and veterans appeared to take a play off.

It’s hard to parse this game other than abject disappointment and weird bounces on the whole night. Let me start then by thinking about game states, the way soccer can be a cruel sport, and the way the play on the field, score, and tactics can ebb and flow. The beautiful game does not exist in a vacuum. Go up early, and you know your opponent is going to push the game. Go down early, and you have to push. All of these factors can shape how teams are forced to adjust and express themselves throughout the match.

But form, the way you are playing, also makes a difference.

FC Dallas came into this match struggling. They have been playing better, advancing in the Open Cup playoffs and finding some form after a dismal start to the season. Real Salt Lake rode into Texas in a different reality, leading the Western Conference, boasting the current Golden Boot leader in Arango, bound together in team unity. It was not going to be an easy game for FC Dallas, even with their uptick in form. A draw would hardly be the end of the world for Dallas, if the team could score and continue improving while key players like Jesus Ferreira try to get healthy.

Right from the outset, Real Salt Lake generated some juicy opportunities via an excellent attack. You could argue that FC Dallas was fortunate not to be down early, but the post and odd bounces aided the home team. Sometimes, that’s the gift of being the home team.

Luck is a fickle creature, but she smiled on Dallas as just before the half Asier Illaramendi sent in a ball that was poorly handled (an understatement) by Zak MacMath, RSL’s goalkeeper, for an unlikely score. Dallas had a lead going into the locker room.

But really, FC Dallas had looked good before that, much more confident, slowing down Real Salt Lake in the brutal heat. After the half, they continued that trajectory, looking in control and dominant. That led to a breakaway goal for Patrickson with a long-range shot into an empty net after MacMath screwed up again, mishandling a ball.

Paul Arriola found the third goal shortly afterward in a hugely euphoric moment for the team’s captain who has struggled with injury. The home side was running rampant.

This was the moment when FC Dallas fans celebrated with glee, a feeling they hadn’t experienced for some time. Their team wasn’t just winning - they were dominant. After a brutal winter of despair, the party kicked off.

Minutes later, Real Salt Lake picked up an easy turnover, zipped down the field, and scored an easy goal.

The goal wasn’t the end of the world - everyone knew that the game state now would shift to RSL attacking wildly and without abandon, but it introduced a question mark to what fans were experiencing. FC Dallas regrouped, shifting to a slightly more defensive approach. Some of those decisions were because of tired and weary legs after a midweek match. They made sense.

Petar Musa had opportunities. Bernard Kamungo had opportunities. But it didn’t quite click - luck is a fickle mistress, after all.

Julio scores a golazo, a goal that was unsaveable, and frankly, incredible. How do you defend that?

Still, it’s 3-2, and FC Dallas can close it out. Right? Right? Nolan Norris comes on to help solidify things, and after his match this past week, I think it’s a good move. He gets a yellow card in literally the same minute for a late challenge. Huh. Dante Sealy, to the groaning of fans, is a defensive reinforcement.

Deep into the added stoppage time, Palacio sends in a hopeful ball, skipping toward goal through a crowd of defenders. I think he was trying to pass. Maybe. It ricochets off of a Dallas player and into the goal. FCD players collapse in disbelief and despair. Maarten Paes, as amazing as he is, can’t work miracles.

The crowd, still clinging to a reality that had their lowly team beating the best team in the Western Conference, shifted from salutations to slams. There are hand signals and unsavory words exchanged. FC Dallas players head to the locker room, some making a half-hearted attempt to acknowledge fans. Some players and fans go back and forth on social media.

The night was a dream - now, it’s a nightmare.

And Nico’s words and his demeanor tell the story - “It’s unacceptable.”

The question will be - what does this mean for the team as they prepare to face their next three opponents on the road? What does this mean for a front office that invested in an incredible striker and witness a season slipping away? What does this mean for a coaching staff that is struggling to get results from these guys?

It really is a draw that felt like a loss.