MLS: FC Dallas 3-2 Toronto FC
FC Dallas picked up a 3-2 win over Toronto FC behind a brace from Fabian Castillo in a match officially lasting four hours and 29 minutes after a lightning delay halted play towards the end of the first half. After leading 3-0, Toronto FC found its way onto the scoreboard behind two flawless goals from Sebastian Giovinco. After receiving a pass just outside the top of the box, the Italian danced along the end line and chipped a ball in near post for his first goal of the night. Six minutes later, the former Juventus man chipped in another shot, this time on a free kick, hitting it perfectly over the wall.
FC Dallas Head Coach Oscar Pareja
On tonight’s game…
The first half for us was very good. The second half, I thought Toronto put us on our heels. They made it difficult for us in the end when we gave up those two goals, but credit to our players. We bounced back from a difficult situation from last week and that shows character. Tonight was a very hard test for a group that in difficult circumstances could collapse and we didn’t. We showed that we are on our feet and that this team has the character to make things happen. We’re proud.
On the weather delay…
It was unreal with all the delays to get to the second half. I have to give all my respect to the players from Toronto and ours. They warmed up 10 times today and that is very difficult. In the second half it was just all heart from both teams. Toronto had less to lose because they were down three goals and they threw bodies and complicated things for us in the end.
On what the team did during the weather delay…
During the first one, we tried to keep the team focused, not knowing there would be more. During the second one we just tried to keep them engaged with the game. That was the most difficult part. It’s difficult to get out on the field and then come back. We wanted to keep them mentally strong.
Toronto FC Head Coach Greg Vanney
On tonight’s game…
The first half was shocking, to say the least. Giving away a goal in 30 seconds is a situation we’ve talked about the entire week in training. The entire week we knew they were coming. Poor initial read by Nick (Hagglund), steps in, then he finds himself in a foot race and instead of just dropping hard, he’s looking over his shoulder and not gaining any speed, then he ends up in a footrace with a guy (Fabian Castillo) that’s very quick. It’s absurd because it was in a situation where we had lots of numbers forward, and they break away on us, which is silly. Second goal, same again. Just a poor read, poor choice, stepping forward and before we know it we’re down 2-0. The third goal we’re finding ways to get in each other’s way or give away goals and that was one of those instances of play that was cleaned up and should’ve been dealt with and then three seconds later we’re pulling it out of the back of our net. Aside from that, on the attacking side, I thought there were some decent combinations, but final product of making them come up with saves, we didn’t have too many. Then we had the stoppage and tried to regroup. It was a long break, but credit the guys for not bowing and coming out hard to compete for the remainder of the match. Quite frankly, we had enough chances to squeak something out there.
On the second half performance of Sebastian Giovinco…
Obviously he’s a special player in all aspects of going forward. His finishing was good, especially on the first goal which was incredibly cheeky. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that in this league. Somebody having that presence to be able to chip the ball over, but the first touch to get around the corner was unbelievable, really. But for me, it was a positive in that Seba really stepped up and took some things on his shoulders and said ‘I’m going to drive this team forward and I’m going at some people’ and I thought that, for us, needs to be a lesson of how we need to compete and go after things.
