For FC Dallas, Saturday night’s visit from St. Louis City SC could be seen as a good-news, bad-news situation.
The good news: They’re playing on their home pitch in Frisco, Texas.
The bad news: They’re playing on their home pitch in Frisco, Texas.
Dallas (5-10-7, 22 points) has managed just five points from 10 home fixtures this year, going 1-7-2. That’s ramped up the pressure on first-year coach Eric Quill, who’s had to battle injuries that have reduced his team’s ability to score or defend.
Dallas’ minus-12 goal differential is tied for second worst in the West, leading only the Los Angeles Galaxy (minus-20). And even results like Wednesday night’s 2-2 draw at San Jose are frustrating because after Petar Musa scored in the 85th minute for a one-goal edge, Dallas conceded a minute later to settle for a point instead of taking three.
Instead of making up ground in its fight for a West playoff spot, Dallas stayed seven points behind San Jose for the last postseason position.
“Disappointment for the guys because they deserved to get three points tonight,” Quill said of the San Jose match. “I’m just gutted for them that they didn’t get that three.”
While Dallas had to settle for a point, St. Louis (4-12-6, 18 points) actually got three points out of its last match on Sunday night. Marcel Hartel recorded a second-half brace in a 2-1 win over Portland, just the second victory for St. Louis in its last 18 matches.
It was one of the rare matches this year in which St. Louis has consistently carried play to its opponent for a full 90 minutes. It finished with a 21-10 advantage in shots and an 8-4 edge in shots on frame.
It was a much-needed result for interim coach David Critchley and his team, which remains 11 points outside the West playoff picture.
“I think the guys, they are on this journey the last eight weeks with me,” he said. “We are on this journey together and the performance, as well. I’m excited for them.”
–Field Level Media
