The Game

After a less than ideal start at home against NYCFC, FC Dallas desired to start off on the right foot. Ten minutes in and the Rapids got on the scoreboard with a shot from Jack Price outside of the box to make things 0-1 against Dallas.

Under 10 minutes down, #Rapids96 go up! #COLvDAL pic.twitter.com/dWmPm0PJAe
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 29, 2019

This goal appeared to have awoken FC Dallas as the match was much more level than the opening minutes. The Colorado Rapids, under Robin Fraser, were not going to make things easy for the visitors as they earned a penalty kick off a Ryan Hollingshead handball. Jesse Gonzalez came up huge for Los Toros with a spectacular save.

Jesse. Gonzalez.
He DENIES Kei Kamara from the spot. #COLvDAL pic.twitter.com/hAcWZxqMCZ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 30, 2019

In the last moments of the first half, the Rapids were awarded a freekick just on top of the 18-yard box after a fake run, Diego Rubio buried the ball into the bottom corner to end the first half 0-2 in favor for the Rapids.

RUBIOOOO!!!#Rapids96 double their lead. #COLvDAL pic.twitter.com/6uv7sumQ9p
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 30, 2019

For Dallas fans hoping that FC Dallas would have a second half like that against Montreal, the attacking abilities of Dallas suggested some hope. Luchi Gonzalez made a double substitution with Santiago Mosquera and Jacori Hayes coming in for Zdenek Ondrasek and Jesus Ferreira respectively. The Rapids further extended their lead with Kamara not missing the back of the net this time to make it 0-3.

Kamara –> Mezquida –> Kamara. 3-0 to #Rapids96! #COLvDAL pic.twitter.com/NlysoTjFYD
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 30, 2019

Ricardo Pepi was introduced in the match for Bryan Acosta as FC Dallas looked to come away with at least a point in the game. It was not a night meant for the North Texas team as FC Dallas looks to secure their playoff hopes on Decision Day.

Thoughts & Takeaways

Road Game

In the last road game of the season, this was a good opportunity for Luchi Gonzalez and his team to put together an idea on how they are going to approach road games in the playoffs (of course, pending their qualification). Given that FC Dallas will be playing on the road for the duration of the playoffs, this is a great match to play a game where you must deal with the opposition tactics, opposing fans, and playing in a must-win game.

The Colorado and Chicago games are evidently ways that you do not want to go about a road game let alone a playoff game where it’s win or go home. The concern is not only how FC Dallas has started the previous matches but how they continue to play throughout the game.

“We knew the scenarios,” head coach Luchi Gonzalez said after the match. “I take full responsibility for the result. I have to make a final decision on lineup, the roster, the idea. We wanted to come here and be proactive and attack, and be on the front foot, get pressure on them and create. You know we did have a lot of the ball, we had more crosses, we had more shots but the quality of those actions, they weren’t there.”

Towards the end of the season, FC Dallas appeared to have figured out how to stay focus during a game and come out from the first whistle with a mentality to earn points. This mentality was shown against Seattle on the road when they came away with a massive road point against a quality playoff opponent. That wasn’t the case against the Rapids. It is important to denote a distinction: this is a conversation on performance and not effort.

What Needs To Be Done

It couldn’t be any simpler: Sunday is a must-win. Don’t leave anything to chance and out and win the last game of the season. Build up the momentum and energy that is key to making a competitive run in the playoffs.

“We need to have more intensity, have [possession of] the ball more, chances created and more compact as an eleven,” defender Matt Hedges when asked what needs to change. “It has to be totally different from today.”

On top of what Hedges has said, the biggest change is the mentality and focus. FC Dallas is a team that has the potential to be very good when they want to. Fans have seen it before when Dallas has gone toe-to-toe with LAFC at Toyota Stadium and earning big results against Minnesota and Houston and Toyota Stadium. Fans, the media, and the players all know what the need to do and many know what the team is capable of.

“If we want to make it to the playoffs, we need to play with everything,” midfielder and forward Jesus Ferreira said. “We need to win that game, and win it, however. It doesn’t matter what it takes.”