Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira each scored within the first 18 minutes to lead FC Dallas to a 3-1 win over the visiting Seattle Sounders on Saturday night in Match 2 of their first-round best-of-three MLS Cup playoff series.
The result sets up a winner-take-all Match 3 in Seattle next Friday.
Jader Obrian also scored for FC Dallas, while Jordan Morris tallied Seattle’s only goal of the match.
The Sounders took a three-match shutout streak into Saturday’s action, including their 2-0 victory over Dallas in Match 1. However, it took FC Dallas just six minutes to find the back of the net in Match 2.
Bernard Kamungo sent in a perfect arcing pass from outside the box that found an open Arriola in front of the net, and the Dallas captain’s header beat goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Kamungo was also involved in the setup of Dallas’ next goal, as the striker was taken down in the box by Seattle defender Nouhou Tolo. FC Dallas were awarded an 18th-minute penalty kick after a video review, and Ferreira converted it for his first career MLS playoff goal.
Echoing Dallas’ quick start, the Sounders responded early in the second half. In the 48th minute, an ill-advised back pass from Kamungo toward Sebastien Ibeagha was taken away by Morris, who raced into the box and converted a well-placed, right-footed kick.
Initially ruled an offsides play, the goal was validated after a brief discussion between the officials, giving Morris his second goal of the first-round series.
The next key ruling wasn’t in the Sounders’ favor, as Ferreira pulled the jersey of Raul Ruidiaz in the box when Ruidiaz was pursuing a cross in the 74th minute. Seattle wasn’t awarded a penalty kick upon video review, as Ferreira’s pull wasn’t judged to have been an impediment to a true scoring chance.
Near-misses from Ruidiaz and Obed Vargas almost gave Seattle the equalizer before Obrian sealed FC Dallas’ win in the 89th minute. Just six minutes after entering the match as a substitute, Obrian took the ball at midfield and raced downfield, taking the shot himself between two teammates acting as decoys.
–Field Level Media