- FC Dallas winger Alan Velasco scored his first FC Dallas goal 23 minutes after making his MLS debut.
- Last debut goal was on June 8, 2019 by Francis Atuahene.
- FC Dallas head coach Nico Estévez earns his first MLS win in his third match.
- FC Dallas forward Franco Jara scored his 15th goal in FC Dallas history and his first goal of the season.
- FC Dallas Homegrown Brandon Servania recorded his fifth MLS assist and first of the 2022 season.
- FC Dallas has shutout Nashville SC in their last two meetings, outscoring Nashville 3-0 after collecting one point and scoring no goals in the first three meetings.
- MLS Box Score
FRISCO, TX (March 12, 2022) - FC Dallas (1-1-1, 4 point) shutout Nashville SC (1-1-1, 4 points) 2-0 with goals from the Argentines Franco Jara and Alan Velasco to earn its first win of the season Saturday night at Toyota Stadium.
Game Summary
First Half:
- 14’ – SHOT (DAL) – Brandon Servania collected a loose ball on the edge of the box and attempted a shot that was deflected out for a corner kick.
- 18’ – SHOT (DAL) – After a nice link up play in the box from Marco Farfan and Jáder Obrian, the play ended with a Jesús Ferreira shot that went slightly wide of goal.
- 21’ – SHOT (DAL) – Joe WIllis beat Ferreira to a loose ball outside of the box, which fell to Paul Arriola who attempted to chip Joe Willis but the defense was able to keep it out.
- 36’ – CHANCE (NSH) – Walker Zimmerman’s header goes slightly wide of Maarten Paes’ goal, following a corner kick.
- 38’ – SHOT (DAL) – Servania’s first time low driven shot from the left side of the box was saved down low by Willis and out for a corner kick.
Second Half
- 49’ – SHOT (DAL) – Ferreira collected a loose ball and attempted a right-footed shot that went wide of Willis’ goal, following an error at the back from Nashville.
- 72’ – CHANCE (DAL) – Alan Velasco carried the ball into the Nashville box from the left side before attempting a cross that was cleared out for a corner kick.
- 85’ – GOAL (DAL) – Franco Jara calmly sent Willis the wrong way to convert from the penalty spot and give FC Dallas the 1-0 lead.
- 87’ – GOAL (DAL) – Alan Velasco received the ball near midfield and dribbled his way into the box before chipping Willis to make it 2-0, following the assist from Brandon Servania.
FC Dallas Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Nico Estévez
On winning his first game…
“This victory means a lot to the fans. To see their faces and all the families in the stadium today celebrating this victory. We had to wait three games to celebrate and we just wanted to dedicate this win to the fans and to the players. I saw them a bit sad last week against New England because we felt like we deserved more. We did enough things to get more and today I was really happy to see their faces because they work really hard. I love this group of players and the whole staff.”
On Alan Velasco’s debut…
“What he showed on the field, is what we were looking for. For that reason, it is why we made the investment on him. We were fighting to get him because he is a really good player. I think it’s also the way we play that helps him build some confidence because he will always have some confidence to do his things. We are very pleased with what he did and we will keep helping him reach his full potential.”
FC Dallas Midfielder Brandon Servania
Initial thoughts on the match…
“Excited to get the first win, especially here at home. It’s huge for us, we’re trying to get as many wins at home because that’ll really help us in the long run. I think we did really well today, controlling the game and tempo, creating more chances and finishing those chances today. It’s overall positive and we have things to improve on but it’s a good first step.”
On Alan Velasco’s debut…
“He had a really amazing debut. What more can you ask for? He came off the bench and gave us a spark, got us a goal, and gave me an assist. I’m looking forward to gaining some more chemistry with him and he showed what he can do tonight. He’s a really good player and hopefully he can build on that.”
FC Dallas Midfielder Alan Velasco
On the sequence of his debut goal…
“When I received the ball, I already knew that there was no one around me nor ahead of me which is why I turned and headed towards the goal. As I was progressing, there were open spaces I decided to attack. I decided to sprint forward and get past my marker. Once my defender fell, I opened up more and created the opportunity to chip the keeper.”
On whether he had scored a similar goal before…
“Almost but not quite. I scored a similar goal vs Colon in Argentina. I started all the way from half field and was able to score. I think that one was my second favorite goal and this one is my new favorite one.”
