Coming from behind, FC Dallas wins 2-1 in Houston to start 2025
In their first match of the 2025 MLS season, FC Dallas found what eluded them often last year - a win on the road.
With rain lashing the swampy Houston area, FC Dallas found a spark that eluded them last season, scoring two scrappy goals to find a crucial and rare away win to start the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign last night.
Going into halftime, FC Dallas found themselves in a familiar place. They were in a hole, having given up a point blank score to Houston off of a bungled clearance. Despite starting with a bit of extra energy, the game slogged down in dismal weather conditions as both teams looked to be balancing those first game jitters and the need to work out their fitness levels. Passes didn’t quite click. Offensive playmaker Lucho Acosta was busy, but he lacked sharpness with Petar Musa.
Of course, it was hard to blame anyone in particular in that first half. Houston looked the stronger team, and as the home side, you expect that. You expect both teams to not look 100% as they fall into a rhythm early in the season. FC Dallas gave up the goal, which was disappointing but also a bit of bad luck. The whole side needed the break to collect themselves.
Eric Quill acknowledged as much in the postgame presser, that he just told the guys to keep their heads, keep working, and keep being aggressive. He noted that some of the runs were maybe a bit timid - first game fears of getting too stretched.
With that attitude, the game shifted quickly in the second half. First, Petar Musa, pressing high, picked up a horrible ball from a Houston defender and slotted an easy goal to draw level in the 55th minute. It was a gift and a mistake that Dallas is never going to apologize for.
Later in the 76th minute, as FC Dallas looked more and more dangerous, growing in confidence, a long ball from Petar Musa over the tap fed Anderson Julio who beat the keeper and defenders to score the go ahead. It was an exhilarating moment for the whole team.
Really, the overall performance is a clear marker of where Eric Quill wants this team to be - a fighter for the full 90 minutes, to believe that they can win and close out these hard fought matches. Was it the prettiest win? No. Are there things that can be improved? Of course. But the new FC Dallas identity is this kind of aggressive belief.
Beyond the win, the biggest storyline was the debut of Osaze Urhoghide, a surprise start on the back line after practicing with the team for just a day or two ahead of the match. The new center back, who Quill noted believes in what the team is building here, hardly put a foot wrong. He was all over the defensive half and not afraid to utilize his ball skills to keep possession, slice passes forward, and keep the momentum up.
The second biggest storyline was a mixed performance from Lucho Acosta, who Houston clearly sought to limit. In the first half, for the most part, they kept Lucho off the ball and out of dangerous spots. Of course, the attacking wizard found a few sequences to combine and showcase what he will do as he gets up to speed with FC Dallas. Expect more soon from Acosta.
Anderson Julio, Pedrinho, Ramiro Benetti, and Shaq Moore also debuted. Julio starting off his time in Frisco with a goal is a great start. Benetti was a bit uneven, but there was a lot to like in his activity and his toughness. He can build on this and grow into his role. Shaq Moore too didn’t necessarily light things up, but he was steady and useful getting high up the pitch to create opportunities and more than adequate at the back. Pedrinho also got his first MLS minutes after an MVP year in Next Pro, and he looked like he was a newcomer at this level. Great moment for him though.
Final note: Bernard Kamungo got his first start as he hopes to build the next chapter in his career, but he was definitely uneven in his decision making. Whether some of that was just nerves or adjusting to the new approach under Eric Quill, there is nothing for him to be alarmed about from this performance. Just keep grinding and take the opportunities that come.
A win is a win is a win.
Under Eric Quill, FC Dallas have turned the page.
May the hard work continue.