Goalkeeper Maarten Paes the savior for FC Dallas

FC Dallas won a great victory at Toyota Stadium in Frisco 2-1 against Sporting Kansas City on March 18, Matchday 4 of the Major League Soccer 2023. Alan Velasco and Jesus Ferreira scored for the locals. Daniel Sallói pushed across the only goal for the visitors.

FC Dallas and Kansas City both played in a 4-3-3 system, but Sporting Kansas City was the team that took advantage creating several opportunities to score. Coached by Peter Vermes, Kansas City started the game without scoring one goal in its statistics, but during the first half, they would break the zero.

In just the 12th minute, the guest team scored the first goal of the game and the season for them. Attacker Dániel Sallói took advantage of a rebound in the edge of the box to do the diagonal and score the 1-0 lead. Meanwhile, FC Dallas was lacking aggressiveness and precision in the last third of the field in the whole first period.

For the second half, FC Dallas would change its face and they would tie the game immediately. It was in the 53rd minute when attacker Velasco received assistance from Sebastian Lletget in the front of the box to score a great goal to the left of the goalkeeper John Pulskamp.

From then on, FC Dallas started dominating the game, but an unfortunate play in the 61st minute allowed Kansas to have a penalty kick. William Agada was kicked it but goalkeeper Maarten Paes guessed the shoot. However, the referee decided to repeat the shot due to an infringement. Again Paes saved the shot, this time from Erik Thommy. Fans at Toyota Stadium were excited by the great save by Paes. Undoubtedly, this play was the key to the game.

While the game was 1-1, FC Dallas coach Nico Estévez was insisting his team score the winning goal, and they would find it. It was in the 83rd minute when José Mulato, coming off the bench, attacked the right side and made a cross to the box to Ferreira who shot with the left foot to give the third points to the Texan team.

With this win, FC Dallas jumped to the fourth position in the Western Conference with seven points. Meanwhile, Sporting Kansas City only has 2 points and they are at the bottom of the standing (14th position). The next game for FC Dallas is scheduled for March 25 in Los Angeles against last year’s champions, the Los Angeles FC. Kansas City will host the Seattle Sounders the same day.