FC DALLAS vs. MINNESOTA UNITED FC
Toyota Stadium | Frisco, Texas
05.22.2022 | MLS Week No. 12 | MLS Game No. 13
6:00 p.m. CT (MLS Live on ESPN+, Bally Sports North, The CW-Twin Cities, 1500 ESPN)

The Loons follow up Wednesday's 1-1 draw with LA Galaxy by saddling up and heading south to the Lonestar State for a Sunday evening showdown with FC Dallas. And, if recent history tells us anything, it’s that Minnesota United has more than a fighting chance against Dallas, as the Loons have been unbeaten in five straight matches against FC Dallas (3-0-2), MNUFC only having one longer active unbeaten run, (six straight vs. San Jose). On the flip side, FC Dallas saw its nine-match unbeaten run (6-0-3) end with a 2-1 defeat at Vancouver on Wednesday. Just don’t expect the Loons to come into Sunday complacent, as Dallas is tough to take down at home, with five consecutive wins to date.

ADRIAN HEATH ON WHAT HE EXPECTS TO SEE FROM FC DALLAS...

“Like everybody else, obviously the Open Cup games are coming up during in the week and we’re at that stage now where we’re not far away from getting to the sharp end of that tournament. I don’t know what they’ll do, but they’ve obviously got a lot of depth because their academy just keeps producing players for them. I don’t know who they’ll play but I do know how they’ll play and they’ll be very, very enthusiastic. They’ll be very, very direct and full of running because that’s the way they play.” MORE

DJ TAYLOR ON HOW THE DEFENSE WILL HANDLE JESUS FERRIERA...

“It’s about almost trying to deny the ball into him sometimes, but also just being aware that he is a smart player. We know what he can do and covering the guy who is marking him so there’s always cover so nobody is left stranded out on an island when they are defending.” MORE

STORYLINES PRESENTED BY BMW

• SLOW THE ROLL: The Dallas attack begins and ends with Jesus Ferreira. Ferreira’s nine MLS goals lead the league by a two-goal margin, and Dallas’ team success is highly related to Ferreira’s individual success. Ferreira did not score while playing the full 90 minutes against Vancouver on Wednesday night, and Dallas subsequently lost 2-1 on the road. Through Dallas’ first twelve matches, they are 4-1-0 when Ferreira finds the back of the net, and 2-3-2 when he fails to do so. Forcing Ferreira to pass more and less accurately has foretold those results somewhat; in Dallas’ three most recent wins, Ferreira has completed over 80% of his passes, and in their last three draws or losses, he’s been below that mark. If Minnesota can force other members of the Dallas attack to beat them, they may be more successful. MORE

FIRST TOUCHES

• Minnesota’s 1-1 draw with LA Galaxy on Wednesday moved them to 15 points on the season and a four-way tie for seventh in the Western Conference with Colorado, Houston and Portland; Colorado, Houston and Minnesota are all tied on goal difference at 0, but Minnesota has scored (and allowed) one fewer goal than the others so they sit ninth.
• Dallas, meanwhile, had an opportunity to move to the top of the West on Wednesday, but lost 2-1 away to last-place Vancouver and remain one point behind LAFC and Austin.
• Dallas is one of eight MLS teams to score 20 or more goals so far this season, and is one of four with a goal difference of +10 or greater. MORE