Santiago Rodriguez scored twice in a span of six minutes and host New York City FC recorded a 3-1 victory over FC Dallas on Saturday night in New York.
NYCFC (4-2-3, 15 points) ran their unbeaten streak to four games (2-0-2) and won their second straight while playing at the home field of the New York Mets.
Rodriguez recorded his first career two-goal game in the MLS by scoring in the 44th minute and again in the 50th.
Talles Magno also scored as NYCFC improved to 3-0-4 in its past seven games against Dallas. Gabriel Pereira contributed an assist after getting a goal disallowed early in the first half due to an offsides call.
After stopping five shots in last week’s home win over Nashville SC, NYCFC goalie Luis Barraza made five of his seven saves in the first half before Rodriguez scored his first goal.
Jose Antonio Martinez scored his first career MLS goal as Dallas (4-3-2, 14 points) was unable to win a third straight game.
Dallas goalie Maarten Paes allowed three goals on six shots as NYCFC totaled 21 shots.
NYCFC appeared to open a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute but Pereira’s strike was nullified when officials determined Richard Ledezma was offside following a video rule.
NYCFC eventually scored by capitalizing on a Dallas defensive miscue near midfield. Rodriguez gained possession, dribbled a few times and with plenty of space, blasted a right-footed shot from outside the box and from outside the box blasted a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Rodriguez scored his second goal this season after Barraza made a diving save on Paxton Pomykal about six minutes earlier.
Rodriguez made it 2-0 by getting a long pass from Pereira, sped through the box and ripped a left-footed shot into the vacated portion of the net from about six yards out.
Five minutes later, Magno scored on a right-footed shot from close range after Pereira made a slight spin move on Dallas defender Marco Farfan.
Dallas ended the shutout bid in the 77th when Martinez finished off a header after getting a pass from Tsiki Ntsabeleng.
–Field Level Media
