WASHINGTON, DC — Four goals to D.C. United’s three makes FC Dallas undefeated in four consecutive Major League Soccer games. It’s also Dallas’ first road win in MLS play this season.
One could say that the month-long break was exactly what FCD needed, to give them a new energy heading into the final eight games. And if you witnessed the match, you could say it was an entertaining one, to say the least.
The night’s madness started as early as the 2nd minute, when D.C.’s Christian Benteke scored a header. DCU’s corner kick was bouncing around in the box before Benteke put it away. Ted Ku-Dipietro and Lucas Bartlett were credited with assists—if the name Bartlett looks familiar to you, it’s because he was taken 6th overall in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by FCD.
But Nkosi Tafari leveled it just seven minutes later, volleying it home off a Sebastian Lletget corner in the 9th minute.
In the 21st minute, Lletget got his goal. Ruan, the newly acquired Brazilian defender from CF Montréal, crossed it and caught Lletget in stride, his forward momentum being all he needed to finish it.
Paul Arriola got his name on the scoresheet in the 40th minute off a combination play between Asier Illarramendi and Katlego Ntsabeleng.
But two minutes later, DCU cut the scoreline back down to a one goal deficit in the 42nd minute. Jared Stroud crossed it from the right side to David Schnegg, who finished it with his left past Maarten Paes.
Fast forward another two minutes: in the 44th, Logan Farrington was in the middle of the box when he cut it to Lletget, who then played it across the face of goal to Ntsabeleng who buried it.
“In my head, I was just like making a run into the box in case the keeper spills it,” Ntsabeleng said. And it ended in him scoring his first MLS career goal.
And if you didn’t think things were interesting enough, two minutes into extra time before the half, DCU went down to ten players because of a red card issued to Boris Enow Takang.
“It was a beautiful first half… We should have managed the game better… [but] a win on the road is a win,” said interim head coach Peter Luccin.
Coming out of the half, DCU got back within one of FCD when Stroud threaded a laser to the bottom left corner in the 49th.
From then on, it was a loud and proud D.C. crowd who rallied for a DCU comeback, but the final whistle was followed with loud “boos” echoing through the stadium.
FCD is back home next Saturday, Aug. 31, to host the Colorado Rapids. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
