SETUP: Dallas vs. Vancouver | 3.11.23

FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas will leave the comfort of Toyota Stadium for the first time this season and hit the road to face the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place this Saturday, March 11 at 4:00 pm CET.

Here’s everything you need to know about the match.

How to watch

Saturday’s match will be available in the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV along with all MLS matches throughout the season. The game will start at 4:09 pm with TV presenters Blake Price and Paul Dolan. Francisco X. Rivera and Max Cordaro will name the game in Spanish, while Jeremy Philosa and Matthias Van Halst will provide commentary in French.

LISTEN

English: If you are unable to watch the match, you can listen to all the action on iHeartMedia 11:90 and the FC Dallas app. Host Sam Hale will report before and after the game starting at 3:30 pm. Leading FCD broadcasters Owen Newkirk and Steve Davis will commentate on the game.

Spanish language: Carlos Alvarado and Rafa Calderon will announce the game in Spanish at 12:70 starting at 16:00.

Match Review

SIMULTANEOUSLY

• FKD entry: 1-1-0 (3 points – 4th in the West)
• VAN record: 0-2-0 (0 points – 12th in the West)
• FCD vs. VAN all time: 10-9-7 (33 scored, 33 missed)
• FCD vs. VAN on the road all time: 2-7-4 (11 scored, 18 missed)

STORY LINES

Pulse
FC Dallas bounced back from a disappointing home opener with an entertaining 3-1 victory over LA Galaxy last Saturday at Toyota Stadium. Los Angeles took the lead in the 35th minute thanks to Dejan Jovelic, who replaced the injured Chicharito. It was the second time in seven days that Dallas had fallen behind at home, but instead of hanging their heads, Nico Estevez’s men bounced back and equalized shortly before halftime. The second half is a different story altogether. Jesús Ferreira led the charge, scoring two goals with fluid counter-attacks similar to those of the 2022 FCD. It was an important win for two reasons: First, the second half reminded the team and the fans just how good Dallas is on offense when they play hard. Secondly, the club scored their first points of the season before heading into a path where points are expensive.

Front Three
Dallas’ offensive line showed exactly why she is one of the best in MLS in the victory over Galaxy. Alan Velasco, Jesús Ferreira and Paul Arriola were all active in front of goal, with Ferreira scoring two goals, Velasco one and Arriola providing assists to each. For the Dallas equalizer, Arriola showed the tenacity and quick wit that set him apart. He was chasing a hopeful long ball that seemed to be meant to protect the Galaxy. Instead of submitting, Arriola went around a defender to collect the ball and fired an early cross to get Velasco into the bottom corner. The second FCD goal brought all three frontmen together. Velasco passed across the field to Arriola who, despite his diminutive build, won with a header that accurately landed in Ferreira’s path into the box. The 22-year-old United States international eluded Los Angeles goalkeeper Jonathan Bond with a gutsy finish that helped him score 18 goals last campaign. Ferreira has once again used his magic to secure his double and he looks well on his way to another high-scoring season. The year is just getting started, but the FKD top three are already at their best, which could prove vital when Dallas takes on a tough Vancouver team.

Vancouver Away
Vancouver has proven to be a tough journey for Dallas over the years. The club have just won two of their 13 attempts at BC Place, with the most recent win coming in 2018 under coach Oscar Pareja. It’s a little surprising considering Vancouver has only made the playoffs once in that time. However, they do have an FCD number in their home territory. And “turf” is the key word here, as BC Place doesn’t have a natural playing surface. It’s certainly not the only place in the MLS to use artificial turf, but the Dallas players still need to get used to it quickly. Something that could tip the scales in FCD’s favor is Vancouver’s schedule. On Wednesday night, the club played (and won 5-0) in the CONCACAF Champions League, so Dallas has a few extra days off against the opposition. However, Vancouver will have plenty of motivation as they look for their first points in the MLS campaign.