NYCFC keeps rolling with win over FC Dallas

ByReuters ESPN logo
Thursday, July 14, 2022

Heber's goal in the 29th minute was all visiting New York City FC needed to earn a 1-0 win over struggling FC Dallas on Wednesday in an interconference match in sweltering conditions in Frisco, Texas.

NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson had to make just one save to record his ninth clean sheet of the season and the 85th of his 14-year MLS career.

NYCFC (10-4-5, 35 points) produced the match's lone goal when Heber made the most of a mistake by the FC Dallas defense and a spot-on pass from Santiago Rodriguez after a run deep into the Dallas defensive zone.

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Heber beat Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes from close range to the center of the goal after outmaneuvering Dallas defender Eulanio Gomes (Nanu) to Rodriguez's cross.

Dallas had a plenty of scoring chances in the second half, the last of which came eight minutes into stoppage time when Nkosi Tafari missed a header wide to the left of the goal after a pass into the box by Edwin Cerrillo.

Defending MLS Cup champions New York -- second in the Eastern Conference behind leaders the Philadelphia Union -- has won two straight matches and earned points in 13 of its past 14 matches, with wins in nine of those games.

Dallas outshot NYCFC 12-4 but had just one shot on goal, matching a season low that was set in three previous matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Chicago Fire FC and the New England Revolution.

The game was statistically even, with NYCFC owning slight edges in possession (50.6 percent to 49.4 percent) and total passes (507-459), while Dallas dominated in corners (7-1), crosses (32-2) and tackles won (8-4).

FC Dallas (7-6-7, 28 points) is winless in their past six matches (three draws) and has won just once in their last nine outings. Dallas has not won at home since May 7 against Seattle Sounders FC.

The teams have now met seven times with NYCFC's win on Wednesday the first on the road by either side. The teams have drawn in four of those contests.

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