- FC Dallas extends its unbeaten season opener record to 13-4-10. At Toyota Stadium, FC Dallas is 14-4-9 with a 12-match unbeaten streak at home since 2010 with seven wins and six draws.
- Paul Arriola, Marco Farfan, Nanu, Tsiki Ntsabeleng and Maarten Paes all made their FC Dallas debuts.
- Jáder Obrian scored the first goal of the season and 10th MLS goal overall in the ninth minute.
- Paul Arriola recorded his 17th overall assist and first FC Dallas assist.
- Paxton Pomykal recorded his eighth MLS assist.
- MLS Box Score
Frisco, TX (February 26, 2021) FC Dallas (0-0-1, 1 point) and Toronto FC (0-0-1, 1 point) share points in the 2022 MLS season opener on Saturday night at Toyota Stadium.
Game Summary
First Half:
- 3’ – SHOT (DAL) – Paxton Pomykal’s low-driven cross from the left side of the box found Paul Arriola on the other side, whose shot attempt went over the goal.
- 9’ – GOAL (DAL) – After a nice build up, Arriola’s cross towards the back post was met by Jáder Obrian who slotted the ball into the net and scored the first goal of the season for FC Dallas.
- 25’ – SHOT (DAL) – Brandon Servania’s deflected shot inside of the box looked to be going in but Toronto FC’s Alex Bono was able to act quickly and push the ball over the goal.
- 28’ – SHOT (DAL) – Arriola’s left-footed curling shot from long range went a few inches wide of Bono’s goal.
- 30’ – SHOT (DAL) – A give and go between Jesús Ferreira and Arriola ended in Ferreira poking the ball past Bono to score the second goal of the match but VAR intervened and called an offside on the play.
- 45’ – GOAL (TFC) – Jacob Shaffelburg’s deflected cross fell into the path of Jonathan Osorio who was able to strike the ball past Maarten Paes to tie the match at 1-1.
Second Half
- 52’ – SHOT (DAL) – Servania’s long-range effort was saved comfortably by Bono.
- 61’ – SHOT (TFC) – Jayden Nelson beat two defenders before setting up Alejandro Pozuleo whose right-footed shot attempt went wide of Paes’ goal.
- 80’ – SHOT (DAL) – Obrian’s pass was intercepted by the Toronto defender but the rebound fell to Nanu who attempted a first-time shot that went wide left.
- 90’ – SHOT (DAL) – Tsiki Ntsabeleng’s played a through ball into the path of Obrian who then set up Ferreira for the shot, but his shot went slightly wide of goal.
FC Dallas Postgame Quotes
FC Dallas head coach Nico Estévez
On Toronto's press...
"We had different options today with the way Toronto was pressing us, it helped us to be more in between spaces. When we were able to get into spaces, when we were able to access those spaces we could progress the attack very quick with good options to our attackers.
In the second half, it is normal right, you want to win and then you try to rise when sometimes you need to come down a little bit. This is something we will learn from this game, for sure."
Overall thoughts on the game...
"The first game is a tricky because both teams are coming from preseason. I think, overall, we we're happy with the performance because we created enough chances to win the game. We’re not happy with the result because we want to win games at home but I think we did everything we can do in the game creating the chances that we have created."
FC Dallas winger Paul Arriola
On having Gregg Berhalter visit FC Dallas head coach Nico Estévez for his first MLS match as head coach…
"I was just talking to Gregg a little bit ago around the locker room and it's nice to have him here, obviously, here for Nico to be honest with you. I wish we could have gotten a win for Nico’s first game. He deserves it. The staff deserves it. It's nice to know that he watches."
On being subbed off…
"I just grabbed my calf. I hate to say that, embarrassingly. I was giving it my all but I was 20 minutes short. [My fitness] is something that I have to get better at and it’s obviously going to get better over the next few weeks."
FC Dallas winger Jáder Obrian
On his overall performance…
“I want to thank my teammates for their effort and hard work that was put [into the match] until the end. This is football, we must go on. We have a chance to redeem ourselves next weekend. Personally, I am happy to have been able to score with this jersey and I would like to keep scoring more.”
On the team’s effort levels in both halves…
“In the first half we had options and in the second half as well. The majority of the dangerous plays in attack we had were near the end of the match. Jesús Ferreira had one in the 90th minute that if he would have scored, we could have won. But that's football, it’s all about redemption.”
