Minnesota United are looking for more success in Texas when they visit FC Dallas on Monday for a first-round matchup in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
FC Dallas (14-9-11, 53 points) are the third seed in the Western Conference, while Minnesota (14-14-6, 48 points) holds the sixth seed. This is the first playoff meeting between the two clubs, who hold an even 6-6-2 record in all-time regular season play.
The two teams exchanged road victories during the regular season, with Minnesota prevailing 2-1 in Dallas on May 22. That was one of only three losses (10-3-4) sustained by FC Dallas on their home field this season.
Dallas returned the favor with a 3-0 shutout in Minnesota on Sept. 3, contributing to a six-game (0-5-1) winless drought for the Loons that threatened Minnesota United’s chances of reaching the postseason. Minnesota needed a 2-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on MLS Decision Day just to clinch their playoff ticket.
“The fact that we won when we needed to was huge, and we’re going to a place (Dallas) where we’ve had success earlier in the season,” Loons midfielder Wil Trapp said. “So there’s a lightness to the group that I think allows us to put what’s in the past in the past and move forward.”
Minnesota United scored only four goals during their last seven games of the season, and will need much more offensive pressure against FC Dallas’ tough defense. Only the Philadelphia Union allowed fewer goals than the 37 Dallas surrendered this season.
Playing in his first MLS season, FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes told the Dallas Morning News that he “was very keen on being the best defense in the whole West, so I’m very happy we managed to do that.”
Minnesota is the only Western Conference team to reach the playoffs in each of the last four years. FC Dallas has reached the postseason for the fourth time in five years, returning after missing the 2021 tournament.
–Field Level Media
