Fire stun FC Dallas with late deluge

FC Dallas 1-3 Chicago Fire

FRISCO, TX–It appeared for most of the match that FC Dallas was in control and were on their way to victory in the home opener, but then the Fire–making their first visit to North Texas in seven years–scored three times in ten minutes and saved a penalty for good measure and went away 3-1 winners and retaining the Brimstone Cup which marks the fierce rivalry between the two sides from the early days of Major League Soccer. It was the first meeting proper between the two teams since 2022.

Photo: Eric Guzman

FC Dallas thought they had taken the lead in the 13th minute through Petr Musa, but VAR determined he was in an offside position as Lucho Acosta played the ball to him. FCD were the better of the two sides for the first half, but was unable to go ahead in the first half. They did go ahead in the 57th minute as Anderson Julio sent a long ball in the direction of Logan Farrington who beat an on coming Chris Brady for the ball in the area and flicked it in for the opening score.

The Fire then pressed for an equalizer and for a while, did not seem they would get one. Then came the final ten minutes, and as the rain came down at Toyota Stadium, the figurative lightning that struck came from the visitors–particularly Cuypers who had a role in all three Fire goals. In the 82nd minute, Hugo Cuypers sent a cross into the box. Tom Barlow dummied and fullback Andrew Gutman made a run into the box and put in the equalizer. Two minutes later, Cuypers would sent a shot that Maarten Paes would save, but would give up a rebound that Leonardo Barroso would pounce on to make it 2-1. Barroso made his debut just six minutes earlier.

Cuypers got a goal of his own from the penalty spot second into stoppage time as he was clipped by Sebastien Ibeagha in the box. FCD were given a lifeline in the fourth minute of stoppage time as VAR saw Barlow handle a ball in the box off a corner kick. However, Chris Brady would make a kick save on Musa and the Fire would hold on for the three points. It was Brady’s first penalty save in league play after 18 spot kicks.

FC Dallas will stay home next Saturday to take on Vancouver Whitecaps (7:30pm CT, Apple TV) while the Fire begin a three-match series against the three Canadian sides starting with a road trip to Toronto FC (1:30pm CT, Apple TV).

For more of Eric Guzman’s photos, please click on the link.

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