Facing elimination on Saturday, Dallas will host the Seattle Sounders at Toyota Stadium in game two of that best-of-three MLS Cup playoff series.
In the opening match on Monday, Seattle walked away with a 2-0 triumph, putting them a win away from making it into the second round for the first time since 2020.
Match preview
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They had their chances in the opening match, but in the end, the Toros could not find that decisive breakthrough in the attacking third at Lumen Field.
Dallas have now scored a goal or fewer in six of their previous seven MLS encounters, though they suffered their first defeat on Monday since August 30 (2-1 versus St Louis City).
Seven of the 11 victories that this side collected during the regular season occurred at home, with the Toros going unbeaten in their final six league fixtures of the campaign, while those last five matches at Toyota Stadium ended in a draw.
The Toros have not led a home playoff contest since defeating the Sounders 2-1 in the 2016 Western Conference semi-finals, though they lost that tie on aggregate (4-2), something this team do not have to worry about this time around as only the wins are counted.
That being said, Dallas have not lost a playoff game in Frisco after 90 minutes since 2011 (2-0 defeat versus the New York Red Bulls), coming back to defeat Minnesota United at home in the 2022 post-season 5-4 on penalties after that match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Nico Estevez's men are undefeated in their last eight MLS encounters when even or behind after 45 minutes, while Dallas have scored first in only one of their previous eight domestic matches this year (4-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy).
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Despite a few shaky moments on the back end, the Rave Green persevered in the first encounter, winning a playoff fixture for the first time since 2020.
Seattle have only conceded once in their previous five MLS games in the regular season and playoffs and have not given up an opening goal since their last visit to Frisco in September (1-1 draw).
Brian Schmetzer's men are unbeaten in their last six MLS road contests but have only triumphed once in their previous four playoff matches away from home, defeating Los Angeles FC in the 2019 Western Conference Final (3-1) en route to capturing the MLS Cup that year at home to Toronto (3-1).
The Rave Green have only conceded one first-half strike in their previous 10 encounters, and that one goal came against the Toros.
Six of their nine defeats during the 2023 regular season occurred when they found themselves behind at the interval, while Seattle captured only one domestic fixture all year when trailing after 45 minutes (3-2 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps).
The Sounders have captured just one of their previous 13 encounters versus Dallas at Toyota Stadium in all competitions (1-0 win in 2021) but have lost only once in their last three visits there after 90 minutes (2-0 defeat in 2022).
Team News
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In the opening match of this series, the Toros were missing Sebastian Lletget because of a pulled hamstring, Facundo Quignon sat out with an undisclosed injury, Tarik Scott underwent season-ending knee surgery months ago and Geovane Jesus will not be back due to an issue in his right knee.
We saw six Dallas players feature for the first time in an MLS post-season fixture this week, including Nkosi Tafari, Asier Illarramendi, Dante Sealy, Sam Junqua, Eugene Ansah and Bernard Kamungo.
Jesus Ferreira is now without a goal in seven successive competitive fixtures, though he and Paul Arriola netted in their previous home triumph against the Sounders (2-0 in 2022), with Maarten Paes collecting a clean sheet on that occasion, while Jader Obrian had their only strike when they played the Rave Green to a 1-1 draw in Frisco last September.
Schmetzer made just one change to his Rave Green starting 11 on Monday from the side which began their clash against St Louis City, with Nouhou Tolo coming in at left-back in place of Reed Baker-Whiting.
A 43rd-minute penalty converted by Albert Rusnak proved to be the winner in the opening match of this series, Jordan Morris notched his fifth career goal versus the Toros, while Stefan Frei made four stops for his 15th clean sheet on the year in the regular season and playoffs.
Alex Roldan had the equalising goal for Seattle in their previous visit to Toyota Stadium, while Raul Ruidiaz had the only strike the last time they won in Frisco in 2021 (1-0).
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Twumasi, Ibeagha, Tafari, Farfan; Pomykal, Illarramendi; Obrian, Fraser; Arriola; Ferreira
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Gomez, Ragen, Tolo; Paulo, Atencio; C. Roldan, Rusnak, Chu; Morris
We say: Dallas 1-0 Seattle Sounders
The Sounders have never emerged victorious from an away playoff contest against the Toros, and we believe the home side will be a little more clinical in the attacking third this weekend and continue their stingy defensive work at Toyota Stadium.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
