FC Dallas 1-NYCFC 1
If FC Dallas has proven one thing this season it is that they play their best when their backs are to the walls. Down a goal very early The Hoops held their own against one of the best clubs in the league in NYCFC, striking back in the second half to earn the 1-1 draw.
Things didn’t start so great early for Dallas. After getting the ball at kickoff NYCFC marched down the field with Anton Tinnerholm breaking past the Dallas defense and hammering a cross into the box. Valentin Castellanos was there to hit the shot into the back of the net, his eleventh of the season. Faced with a goal deficit and desperately needing points to keep up in the West, Dallas coach Luchi Gonzalez made a tactical substitution bringing on Paxton Pomykal for an injured Brandon Servania. The move paid off in the 65th minute with Pomykal intercepting a pass deep in New York territory and finding a wide 0pen Zdenek Ondrasek for the equalizer.
For NYCFC (16-5-10, 58 points) the good news is that with a point they still maintain a two game edge over Atlanta United FC (17-11-3, 54 points) for first place in the Eastern Conference. The bad news is that Atlanta defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 over the weekend narrowing their advantage to four. That sets up a very exciting encounter tomorrow night between the two sides at Yankee Stadium (7pm, ESPN+) with The Pigeons looking to use the chance to put their rivals away.
As for Dallas (12-11-9, 45 points) the point allows them to keep pace in the Western Conference. They currently sit in sixth place, just a point ahead of the San Jose Earthquakes (13-13-5, 44 points). They can seal up their playoff spot on Sunday when they travel to Colorado to take on the Rapids (7:30 pm EST, ESPN+).
Prost photographer Julio Varguez was at the event and you can check out his photos below! Also, feel free to give him a shout out on Twitter @J_Varguez
