Looking for independence from a recent slump, FC Dallas will host Inter Miami CF on Monday night for more than just Fourth of July fireworks.
In recent weeks, the form of both teams has turned in a different direction from how it was at the start of the season, and in opposite directions from each other. Miami has won three of its last four matches, while Dallas has won only one of its last six, including none of the three contests since returning from the June international break.
“The break, you never know how it’s going to affect you, it probably didn’t arrive in the best moment for us,” FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez told The Striker Texas. “We’ve played against two of the best teams in the league, LAFC and Austin, away, and you can expect that you’re not getting the result that you want, but I think the overall performance was good in both games.”
This matchup goes deeper than simply form and results on paper though, so here’s more of what you need to know about the two teams ahead of the Independence Day clash.
KICKOFF: 8:08 p.m. CT on Monday, July 4, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX
HOW TO WATCH: TXA 21, FCDTV Network, KMPX-29 (Spanish), FCDallas.com/stream, ESPN+
HOW TO LISTEN: Talk Radio 1190AM KFXR, TUDN 1270AM (Spanish), FCDallas.com/Radio
HOW TO FOLLOW ONLINE: #DALvMIA, MLS Match Center
RECORDS: FCD: 7W-5L-5D (26 pts, 5th in the Western Conference, 5-2-1 at home) | MIA: 6W-7L-3D (21 pts, 8th in the Eastern Conference, 1-5-1 away)
LAST TIME OUT: Dallas lost 3-1 away to LAFC on Wednesday night, competing with the frontrunner for the Supporters’ Shield but making costly mistakes. Miami won 2-1 at home against Minnesota United FC on June 25 behind two very late goals just over three minutes apart.
PROJECTED LINEUPS:
FCD (4-3-3): Maarten Paes; Ema Twumasi, Matt Hedges, Jose Martinez, Marco Farfan; Brandon Servania, Facundo Quignon, Paxton Pomykal; Paul Arriola, Jesus Ferreira, Alan Velasco
Caution accumulation warnings: Marco Farfan, Facundo Quignon, Alan Velasco
MIA (4-3-3): Drake Callender; Deandre Yedlin, Damion Lowe, Ryan Sailor, Christopher McVey; Victor Ulloa, Jean Mota, Bryce Duke; Indiana Vassilev, Leonardo Campana, Ariel Lassiter
Suspension: Gregore
Caution accumulation warning: DeAndre Yedlin
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
FCD: Matt Hedges, center back – Dallas has conceded goals in multiple key moments in recent matches, so perhaps somebody at the back needs to take charge and marshal a stingier defense. That leader at the back could be Hedges, who just surpassed 25,000 minutes played in his career, all with Dallas.
Leading is, of course, about doing as well, and Hedges has been doing well for Dallas so far this year. Through 14 appearances, he leads the team with 18 interceptions and has won 58.7% of all duels and 57.4% of those in the air, so look for him to keep things locked down as Dallas tries to get back to winning ways via solid defending.
MIA: Indiana Vassilev, winger – Vassilev came off the bench in Miami’s last match and scored both of the late goals which turned things around. He scored just three goals in his first loan spell with Miami in 2021, so to notch two in the most recent match could be the spark which sees him turn into a whole new threat.
Vassilev popped up in the right places for both goals, first calmly finishing off a throughball, then volleying home after a ball was half-cleared and fell to him. Whether he earns a start or, perhaps more dangerously, comes off the bench again, Dallas will need to track his movements tightly to keep him from turning another match around.
KEY MATCHUP: Dallas’ defense vs. late goals
Dallas’ performances lately have been good but the results have left something to be desired, and a large part of that comes down to conceding late goals. Three times in the last two matches, Dallas has conceded a goal within 20 minutes of the final whistle, most notably giving up its 2-0 lead in Austin.
This week’s opponent, Miami, will feel confident if it hasn’t been entirely crushed by the latter stages of the match, hoping to score a couple of late goals again and rescue the result like in its last match. That’s when Dallas, particularly its defense, must stay organized and alert as it tries to close out the match strong, even if its lead is already insurmountable.
FOR THE WIN: FCD doesn’t switch off in key moments
You have to play and focus for the whole 90 minutes, and while conceding late goals is the ultimate cautionary tale in that respect, little mistakes at any moment of the match can be costly.
“Blowing a two-goal lead [in Austin], I think that was tough, we should have held onto that result, we just had some defensive breakdowns right at the end,” said Dallas right back Ema Twumasi. “In the game against LA, I feel like we dominated most parts of the game against a very good LA team on the road, [but] you have to be on your A-game throughout the 90 minutes and I feel like we had some defensive breakdowns in key moments and they capitalized.”
Even if Miami is in good form, its away record still doesn’t strike fear into the teams it visits, especially a strong Dallas side looking to end a two-match losing streak at home. Miami shouldn’t be able to get much of a foothold in this match if Dallas stays focused throughout and doesn’t give them one with a momentary lapse of concentration.
