Dallas-Vancouver Whitecaps: First trip in 2023 brings pesky enemy

FRISCO, Texas. The first road trip of the 2023 season for FC Dallas will be to the Pacific Northwest and across the border to Vancouver, Canada.

Dallas and the Vancouver Whitecaps started the season in seemingly opposite directions, with Vancouver losing their first two MLS games and Dallas ending up at the top of the Western Conference.

But lately, Vancouver has got the FC Dallas number.

The last time Dallas made this trip, the match ended in a less-than-desirable result for the Toros. Despite superior possession, shots, shots on goal, and a host of other stats, Dallas was leading in more than just one important metric. They were 1-0 up at half time, but a goal in the 70th minute and the stoppage time game winner sent Dallas home in a 2-1 defeat.

The two clubs met again in a rematch a month later in Frisco and the Whitecaps were again victorious with two goals.

FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez said at a press conference on Wednesday that Vancouver is a tough place to play but thinks his club is better despite the loss.

“If you analyze their games at home, there is always something going on,” Estevez said.

White caps, in fact, won the past. three against Dallas and were the only team to beat them more than once last year.

In preparation for Saturday’s game, Estevez told reporters that he would be following the Whitecaps’ game in the CONCACAF Champions League. He said he would keep an eye on who rotates in the lineup and what style they play in the match. Vancouver won their match 5–0 against Honduran team Real CD España.

FC Dallas enters the match after defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy. This returned Dallas back to a three-way tie and finished third in the Western Conference with 3 points and a +1 goal difference.

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Through Keeping the Score throughout the 2023 season, we are committed to bringing you complete coverage of FC Dallas’ game day, covering everything from the game to the food to the fans who make the game so great, our Becky G. forecast” (yes, really) and everything in between in a fun, digestible way.

Here’s “Keeping the Score” for the past week.