FC Dallas reached the final stretch of the MLS regular season with a clear mission, but an exhausting one: beating the San Jose Earthquakes this Wednesday, October 2, and maintaining aspirations toward the playoffs. On the other hand, as soccer often teaches us, sometimes one doesn't get enough by depending on oneself. That takes not only three points for the Texas team but also slip-ups from direct competitors like Portland Timbers and Minnesota United. The math is cruel but not without hope. Dallas must believe this, as must its fans.
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Tough but Not Impossible Scenario
The 2024 season has been ruthless on FC Dallas. The team has seen their highs and their lows and is now in a sticky situation on the table. With three matches remaining for the season, they will have to hope for a combination of results to progress into the MLS playoffs. The Texas outfit is keeping track of every minute detail regarding Portland and Minnesota's matches, since any wins in these might further diminish the hopes of Dallas.
The game against the San Jose Earthquakes is vital. A loss or a draw would have Dallas mathematically eliminated. It isn't all about winning, though. For Dallas to keep dreaming, Real Salt Lake need to beat Minnesota United, and Austin FC have to at least draw with Portland Timbers. It's pretty tight, but, well, anything can happen in sports, right?
Inconsistent Performance throughout the Season
FC Dallas started the season with great expectations, but it has been a year full of ups and downs that brought them to where they currently stand. The boss, Nico Estévez, has shown good adaptation at times but hasn't been able to give the consistency that this squad needed. The ups and downs in defense and offense have continuously brought down all hopes of securing important points.
However, Dallas has flashed brilliance throughout the campaign. Players like Jesus Ferreira and Alan Velasco were instrumental in some victories, but the team didn't find that regularity which was needed to have a smoother campaign towards the playoffs. With the stakes of not losing much higher now than before, it's time for the stars to show up on the field and secure three points in San Jose.
The Battle Against San Jose Earthquakes
Paper series has FC Dallas having it a bit easier against the San Jose Earthquakes, who sit at the bottom of the overall MLS standings and long since clinched the dreaded "Wooden Spoon" for worst regular-season record. That could be a fatal mistake if FC Dallas underestimates them.
Dallas already faced the Earthquakes at the beginning of the season and came away victorious, but things might be different in PayPal Park. Dallas' recent history in San Jose is pretty ugly-just one win since 2016. With all that said, teams with no more playoff hopes happen to play more freely without the pressure of the results, which might make life difficult for FC Dallas.