FC Dallas 3, Vancouver Whitecaps 1 | MLS Match Recap

FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas forced themselves back into the Western Conference playoffs picture after beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 with two stunning late goals on Saturday night at FC Dallas Stadium.

Substitute Mauro Diaz showed the quality that prompted FCD to make him a Young Designated Player when he volleyed a Fabian Castillo cross with serious power past a helpless Vancouver goalkeeper David Ousted in the 87th minute. 

That game-winner would probably be an MLS Goal of the Week shoo-in, were it not for the 50-yard bomb that defender Jair Benitez lofted over Ousted minutes later to ice the result.

Both teams wasted no time getting on the board on a steamy night in Texas, as the score was tied 1-1 before the match was even 10 minutes old. Vancouver opened the scoring after a beautiful passing sequence between Camilo and Kenny Miller released the Scotsman into open space on the right side. 

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He sent in a cross that onrushing midfielder Daigo Kobayashi deftly volleyed past Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz for his second goal of the season. The assist was Miller’s first of the year.

The fourth-minute strike was only the third FC Dallas has allowed in the opening 15 minutes of a match in 2013. Unfortunately for Vancouver, they’ve made a habit of conceding early goals this season and gave up their ninth in the first 15 minutes of matches just moments later.

Castillo was carrying the ball through the middle of the field on the edge of FCD's final third when he spotted midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson all alone on the left side. The Jamaican international looked up, took two quick touches and blasted a right-footed shot from 20 yards that zoomed straight into the upper corner of the net at Ousted’s near post.

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It was Watson's second of the year. Dallas had scored only three goals from outside the box all season before connecting on three on Saturday night.

The result marked Dallas’ first victory at home since their defeat of San Jose on May 25.

Next week the Whitecaps play the second match of their current three-game road trip when they visit the San Jose Earthquakes. FC Dallas hit the road as well to take on the Colorado Rapids in another match with big playoff implications for both squads.

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