Musa Hat Trick Lifts Dallas past Loons

FC Dallas 5-3 Minnesota United

FRISCO, TX–Petar Musa had not scored in five matches coming into Wednesday, but would score a hat trick in FC Dallas’s 5-3 win over Minnesota United to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season. It’s the first hat trick since March 2022 for FC Dallas and the first time since August 2021 that FCD had scored five in a match.

Musa’s first goal came in the 17th minute coming down the flank to beat Clint Irwin far post after receiving a looping ball from Paul Arriola. Bongokuhle Hlongwane equalized for the Loons in the 32nd minute off a corner, but Musa restored Dallas’s lead six minutes later picking up a deflected cross from Bernard Kamungo.

Hasani Dotson restored parity in the 57th minute for Minnesota, but parity would last just five minutes as Musa completed his hat trick after Sebastian Llegett set him up for a point blank shot. Musa would be substituted for Lucas Farrington and Farrington would make an impact assisting on Jesus Ferreira’s goal in the 75th minute and then scoring one of his own in the 90th. Will Trapp added a late consolation penalty for Minnesota to complete the scoring.

“The effort has been fantastic,” said FC Dallas interim coach Peter Luccin. “We are making progress. It’s going to be step-by-step. But you can see that the attitude from the players is excellent.

“They want to play. They understand. So now it’s just, again, to find that balance.”

Dallas move to 11th in the West, just four points off a playoff spot. Minnesota remain fourth in the West, but now just one point clear of Colorado who defeated St. Louis on Wednesday. FCD next play on Saturday against Seattle with kickoff at 9:30pm CT on Apple TV as part of the MLS Season Pass. Minnesota also travel to the Pacific Coast on Saturday to take on Portland.

For more of Eric Guzman’s photos on the evening, please click on the link to his gallery.