Three Things That Went Right During FCD’s Three Game Week
Just before the World Cup break, FC Dallas faced a three-game week against some of the top teams in the Western Conference, hosting and beating Real Salt Lake before dropping a close home match to the Vancouver Whitecaps, and finally traveling to San Jose and beating the Earthquakes with dramatic last-minute action.
Let’s look at a few things that went really well for the Burn as they prepare for their final game ahead of the World Cup break.
1) The Back 4
A couple of weeks ago, I made the case for Dallas to make a more permanent switch to the back 4, feeling that the back 3/5 had run its course and was no longer providing enough benefit to the club with its current personnel. Eric Quill and his staff made me look good by making the switch, and, for the most part, it has paid off. Dallas has pushed more and more into the back 4, initially largely using it as a defensive shape, but in the past three games, Dallas has increasingly used the shape in possession as well.
It has come with a few different overall styles of play, too. Against RSL, Dallas sat deep and countered hard, recording just 27% possession, the lowest tally the team has recorded since Eric Quill took over before the 2025 season but against Vancouver and San Jose, the two teams at the top of the conference, they sat at 49% and 45% respectively, not high marks by any stretch but higher than we’ve become accustomed to since Lucho Acosta’s departure last summer. But overall, Dallas looks comfortable in the back 4, and although the defense is still a bit leaky and struggling to keep goals off the board, they are far from “bad” and don’t look any more open at the back than they did with the back 5. Even after Bernard Kamungo comes back, this looks like the clear path forward for this team through 2026.
2) Forcing Turnovers
As a team that loves to play vertically and quickly, forcing turnovers will be a key part of FCD’s success, and they were able to do so, to some extent, in all three games. They took advantage of RSL’s injury-ridden backline to capitalize on some turnovers in midfield and score in transition. They then struggled a bit to break down Vancouver’s excellent midfield, but still had moments when they won the ball high and created some half-chances.
Finally, against San Jose, they were consistently able to win the ball in midfield and start dangerous attacks, creating chances (they recorded over 3 xG according to FotMob). This is something to keep an eye on going forward, especially in FCD’s new shape, if they can keep turning teams over like they did against San Jose, they’re going to be capable of beating anyone in MLS.
3) Sam Sarver
Don’t look now, but Dallas has the best attacking impact sub in all of MLS with Super Sam Sarver.
After getting his first MLS goal away in New Jersey to seal the deal against the Red Bulls, he got himself another game-sealing goal against RSL, blowing by three RSL defenders and expertly finishing past Rafa Cabral to seal the game.
He was then a marginal offside call away from drawing a penalty that would have tied the game late against Vancouver. He capped off his week with a game-winning goal in stoppage time in San Jose to beat the Quakes and give the world one of the best goal celebrations ever:
The boats are ablaze ⛵️🔥
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) May 17, 2026
Sam Sarver the man that you are pic.twitter.com/i8uZry8ke5
I mean, what else can you say about this? Sarver has been an instant fan favorite ever since some of his first interviews came out after being drafted in the second round before the 2025 season, and it is wonderful to see things pay off so well for him.
He has truly found a real role as an attacking option off the bench for Eric Quill, and it will be fascinating to see where his game goes from here.
Where are you at on FCD following their three-game week?
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