SportSpyder - The Latest FC Dallas Podcasts

3rd Degree the Podcast #379

3rd_Degree — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 09:17:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, it was almost a total win episode! Your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dennis McGowan, and Buzz Carrick - dissect the two FC Dallas results: a win vs. Seattle and a (rotated) tie at Houston. Kaick, Moore, Daniel, Cappis, Job... lots to talk about. Can FCD climb to second in the West? A big game this week against San Jose may be the key, good or bad.

Dallas Trinity won the State Fair Clásico over Chivas Femenil with some exciting play from several reserve players. They get back to league play against DC Power next, and Dennis says some players may have elevated themselves into the XI from the Clásico.

North Texas SC won a scrimmage against Foro SC 2-1 this weekend. Foro faces Denton Diablos in 2027 US Open Cup Qualifying on the 31st.

Music by Pappy Check!

FC Dallas Are Contenders After Gritty Result in Houston

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 03:25:47 GMT

Christian Cappis scores to open up the game. Credit to the FC Dallas media crew for their amazing work!

As Sam Sarver chucked a beer into the Houston stands, promptly earning himself a red card, fans of this FC Dallas team could hear, once again, those iconic words in how Eric Quill introduced himself on his return to Frisco:

“I want dawgs.”

Move over Oscar Pareja’s busca la forma — Quill wanted a team with an attitude, with grit, with fight and determination to not back down.

And despite some unfortunate results, especially dropped points at home, Quill and this gnarly collection of players have delivered, especially in some tough games when fans would have been fine with a close loss or a lucky draw. FC Dallas have found a way to win, to grind out results in a very deep and talented Western Conference. When the results weren’t coming at home, Dallas snatched them on the road.

The end game - FC Dallas has clinched a playoff spot with 51 points, third in the West.

And there is plenty of soccer left to play.

Looking back at this week, FC Dallas could have collapsed after the late goals given up against Charlotte. In what should have been at least a draw, if not all three points, the team returned to Frisco licking their wounds. In years past, this would have been a mental test that had some guys panicky.

Instead, Dallas welcomed Seattle Sounders to the Toyota and took them down in the kind of professional performance we have lacked. It wasn’t necessarily beautiful soccer, but buoyed by a bunch of saves by Daniel, the home side downed their Western conference rivals and bounced back strong from that East Coast trip. When your star striker doesn’t score, you need to find a way. And they did.

I mean, look at this from Kaick:

This team is doing special things. Everyone is contributing.

Against Houston, you didn’t need to be a master soccer statistician to know this was going to be a brutal and physical game. These teams both took the field and played like they don’t like each other. That’s how it should be in a Texas derby!

Christian Cappis got a clutch goal — again, everyone is contributing. Petar Musa had his PK saved after the first one was called back. And the defense looked shaky down the stretch, a problem that needs to be addressed in these final few games, but when the Moose was given the chance to bury a game tying score from the spot, he did what he does best.

The Copa Tejas is over. FC Dallas reign over Texas.

El Capitan is also back home where it belongs.

While we didn’t have a show on Monday (happy birthday, Jose), FC Dallas don’t have to settle for 51 points. Three of their next four are at home. All of them are ripe for wins. The squad is healthy, and newcomer Daniel Job appears excited to be suiting up for Dallas and showcasing what makes him so dangerous.

This team is a contender. This team can make a deep run. This team could even go all the way if they maintain this spirit, this edge, this fight.

Here’s what Quill said after the Houston match: “We have a championship mentality, and we’re going to keep fighting.”

I’ll be scoping out a few questions and threads over the next week or two:

Will Daniel Job get another start or force his way into the lineup? His early performances have highlighted his great physical skills, and it usually takes a newcomer some time to adjust to Major League Soccer. But why not? Job’s touch on the ball and his dangerous runs offer Quill another high octane resource off the bench… or from the gates to terrorize opponents.
Will the defense click? It’s too late in the season to make structural changes or try to find the best lineup. At this point, we know Shaq Moore, Osaze Urhoghide, Nolan Norris, Herman Johansson, Ibeagha, and Abubakar are all going to get minutes and play key roles. Bernard Kamungo is solid at left wing back, but he still can make mistakes. Nolan can too. Maybe the coaches just need to get this crew to keep working on their communication skills. I’d love to see a couple of clean sheets coming out of these final four games to have the group confident.
Quill’s problem with this roster is that he has a bunch of guys, all of whom can make a difference. It’s the challenge to figure out which set of guys to roll out each game. How many times have we seen Patrickson Delgado play brilliant then fall off the face of the earth? Which set of midfielders are healthy and work well together? At this point, Kaick and Valiente have done more than enough to be locks, but we learn a lot about what the optimum midfield trio is down the stretch.

Let’s end with more Sam Sarver.

This totally explains the red card. He could have hurt someone. But also, FC Dallas better sign this man to a contract extension. What a game.

Afterburn Soccer Show - October 12, 2026

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:21:03 GMT

Hey, there. Thanks for listening, liking, and subscribing!

Jose Carmona and Nathan jump into things right away, looking back at an ultimately disappointing loss in Charlotte for FC Dallas. While Petar Musa got his 19th goal of the season, a record setting mark, the late collapse spoiled points on the road for our boys from Frisco.

We hit the game, we talk about North Texas SC changes, and we check out the schedule ahead.

Thanks for your support!

Afterburn Soccer Show - October 12, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:20:00 GMT

Live at 7 PM CST: FC Dallas Drops Points in Charlotte

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:22:13 GMT

Hey, folks, Afterburn is back this evening for a bit to break down the most recent result for FC Dallas in Charlotte.

We go live at 7 PM CST.

It was not the weekend any of us wanted or expected.

FC Dallas came out of international break without Musa starting, no doubt due to the busy travel schedule as he has been with the Croatian national team.

Overall, despite a strong start, FC Dallas collapsed deep in the second half.

The rainy weather also may have played a factor, as the conditions made for some nervy soccer.

For most of the match, though, FC Dallas, while far from perfect, looked to be in control. Logan Farrington smashed in a beautiful cross from Herman Johansson for the opening goal. Petar Musa, coming on in the second half, found another one, his 19th of the season. The squad looked strong.

When 2-0 up later into the second, you know your opponent is going to push, but surely FC Dallas would find the grit, as they have done before, to see out the result.

Sadly, no.

FC Dallas proceeded to wilt under the late game pressure and give up three goals in a defensive disaster class. It’s hard to point at just one performance on that back line or in goal, but you hoped the guys would have found some way to lock down things, even to preserve a point. Unfortunately, I think the goalkeeper battle may get re-ignited after this one. Someone has to step up and organize the back line. Somehow, someone in the midfield needs to find a way disrupt those quick counter attacks.

“We’re all upset. We played beautifully, had the game in hand, and then dropped our guard and got punished for the first goal. The momentum shifted to their side, and their belief grew. We let that momentum swallow us up and never regained control to build it back on our side,” head coach Eric Quill told media after the match. “We were sloppy with the ball, loose in transition, and our box defending went missing. This is a missed opportunity that we have to make right because we all know we should have won this game. But as we’ve done all year, we’re going to pick ourselves up. We’ll have the belief on Wednesday night to come back and rectify what just happened. All we can do is look at it, put it in the memory bank and make sure we never let it happen again.”

I know folks were fussing about Bernard Kamungo’s less than stellar defending, but especially on that final goal, every defender looked out of sorts.

The bright spot remains Petar Musa. He’s performing at a MVP level, and he deserves the plaudits coming his way. He also bought a house, so he is sticking around?

The schedule ahead is going to be a battle to the finish. FC Dallas still sit in 3rd place, which is a great place to be, but the Charlotte result reminds this team that there is little room for error going ahead. With six games ahead, two this week alone, everything is on the line.

See you in a few hours!

3rd Degree the Podcast #378

3rd_Degree — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:29:00 GMT

Surprise, it's a Monday podcast again!

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dennis McGowan, and Buzz Carrick - are all a little bummed as both FC Dallas and Dallas Trinity had stinker performances.

FC Dallas had a two-goal loss on the road and let it get away. Things were looking good, and it was some enjoyable soccer, then mistakes were made on the field and by the coach. Defensive frailties were exposed, and it all went sideways. But this team is still good, and it has three tough 6-point games coming up next, including this week against Seattle and Houston.

Dallas Trinity went to play Brooklyn on that tiny little bandbox, and it led to some horrible soccer. Trinity didn't have much of an answer except Jasmine Hamid and 1800 midfielders. Trinity could have taken the game, but Hamid hit the post on her PK. The State Fair of Texas Clásico against Chivas Femenil. Should be a lot of fun at the Fair.

And Buzz has a North Texas SC update.

Music by Pappy Check!

3rd Degree the Podcast #377

3rd_Degree — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:43:00 GMT

There were no games this last weekend to talk about on this episode of 3rd Degree the Podcast, but you don't know your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dennis McGowan, and Buzz Carrick - if you think that means they got nothing to talk about.

Starting with FC Dallas and what a fantastic stretch run there is to look forward to. Yes, Petar Musa is key, but so is Joaquín Valiente. Does this team have a first XI? What's more important in the playoffs: home field or a certain opponent? Charlotte is ahead this weekend, and Buzz has a small concern. The fellas on SoccerWise enjoyed Peter's Sack-Assist stat from last week.

Dallas Trinity also returns to action with a roady at Brooklyn (no sleep 'till). Is that the worst home field in US pro soccer? Coach Nguyen has some tough decisions to make in his XI each week, but he's also got some looming this winter, as the sprint season is already half over.

And with all the young talent coming into the USMNT, Peter asks the question, "Where has all the FC Dallas-to-the-US talent gone?"

Music by Pappy Check!

Afterburn Soccer Show - September 28, 2026

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:54:55 GMT

Thanks again for your support through this season.

The highlights of this episode:

FC Dallas win over LAFC 1-0.
FC Dallas are second in the west.
FC Dallas got a coach fired (sorry, LAFC).
John Gall out as North Texas HC.
No game next week.
While rumors abound, Musa bought a house.

Thanks for your support! We love our FC Dallas family!

Afterburn Soccer Show - September 28, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:54:00 GMT

3rd Degree the Podcast #376

3rd_Degree — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, you win some, you lose some. Your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dennis McGowan, and Buzz Carrick - break down the FC Dallas win over LAFC. A win so annoying to LA that they fired their coach! A win built on quality defense. A win that got FC Dallas into 2nd place in the West. Is it time to start worrying about Coach Eric Quill getting poached by someone with deep pockets? There was a new Job in town; how did he do? Plus, Petar Musa says he wants to get back to Europe! Is it time to panic? Good thing FCD is off this weekend.

On the losing end was Dallas Trinity, who got rolled by the defending champs, Lexington SC. Yes, some chances went missing, but Lexington had too much for the Golden Girls to handle. Perhaps Coach Nguyen could have gone at this one differently? Trinity is also off this weekend. They too will be missing some pieces soon.

Plus, in North Texas SC news, John Gall was not retained.

Music by Pappy Check!

LIVE Tonight at 7 PM CST: FC Dallas Win & LAFC fire their head coach.

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 21:54:22 GMT

Welcome back to the Afterburn Soccer Show.

It will just be Nathan and MrCoov tonight as we break down a busy weekend of action and news for FC Dallas and North Texas SC.

For starters, FC Dallas got the job done with a solid 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC at home. Both teams were missing key players, and while there is always a controversial call or two, Osaze Urhoghide’s towering header was enough to seal the win at home. The result pushes FC Dallas to 2nd place in the West, a huge result and climb.

Following the loss, Los Angeles FC fired their head coach. What an effect that this team has over their rivals.

North Texas SC also made the departure of John Gall official. We’ll have more about this later in the week, but the move made sense to provide a change at the club. Gall concludes a very solid tenure, and no doubt, he will find other places to land in the soccer landscape.

We will hit these topics and others.

See you in a bit!

Afterburn Socer Show - September 23, 2026

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:36:39 GMT

Thanks, as usual, for your support, for listening in, for commenting live as we break down all the latest news for FC Dallas and North Texas SC.

Thanks to Todd for popping us a few questions and comments as we looked back at a somewhat disappointing 0-0 draw at home for FC Dallas over Austin FC. We spent more time thinking about the future of North Texas SC. Who will stay? Who will go? What is the future of the coaching staff? How will they begin to construct a competitive roster next year?

Lots of unknowns!

But we do close with predictions for a big match this weekend against Los Angeles FC.

Afterburn Socer Show - September 23, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:36:00 GMT

A Bitter Weekend: FC Dallas Draw; North Texas Crash Out

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:00:08 GMT

Hey, folks, welcome back to Afterburner soccer as we pick up the pieces from a not-so-great season for FC Dallas and North Texas SC.

Heads up - Jose and I will be live tonight to look at the weekend and especially get a head start thinking about the future of North Texas SC at 7 PM CST.

Soccer can be a cruel sport.

Have the more talented squad? It won’t matter if your guys get snake bit in front of goal.

Be full of vibes and ask for more buy-in and belief from your boys? It won’t matter if the bounces don’t go your way.

Build a tactically cohesive roster to deploy your genius formation? One injury can destroy your season.

Of course, you may not lose. You may get those bounces and those vibes and that tactical brilliance coming together, even while your roster is still full of half-baked pieces left over from previous managers. This is the ridiculousness of soccer. It’s like rolling dice and hoping you land the fabled 20.

For Eric Quill, he rolled the dice at home on Saturday night against a depleted and inferior Austin FC side. His squad put out a near 2xG kind of performance, and it wasn’t good enough. They settled for a draw, a draw which communicated to the league and the world — soccer is a cruel game.

FC Dallas won the Copa Tejas despite not getting all three points. It’s a bitter consolation prize with all things considered. You take the points, of course, but it showcases the work to be done for FC Dallas on a vital stretch of matches ahead, especially if they want to keep climbing that table.

North Texas Crash Out

Let’s just lay it out there - North Texas SC began the day in clear control of their playoff destiny, and by the end, they had, cruelly and sadly, watched it slip through their fingers.

The Colorado Rapids 2 are the worst team in MLS Next Pro, and North Texas SC, this mis-match of guys from the first team and homegrown and SuperDraft picks and project pieces, couldn’t get it to click, once again. In all honesty, they didn’t choose to give up a go ahead golazo kind of goal. It just happened. Soccer, again, is cruel like that. The Rapids got the bounce on the night.

Go back in time. Had North Texas closed out a win, up 2-1, against Dynamo 2 two weeks ago, we would not be having this conversation. North Texas SC would have punched their ticket to the next round. Instead, this is a team, despite its talent, that gave up goals. Gave up moments. Gave in to being less than special.

It’s a really difficult result to swallow, even as guys like Slade Starnes kept fighting to the very bitter end.

I’d argue that it wasn’t just one game where they gave it up, but we saw the challenges with consistency of this team over the course of the season. The problem was larger than one 90 minute run. For whatever reason, this roster, with all of its talent, couldn’t find the balance they needed. There will be plenty of time for Coach Gall and company to look back and think about what is needed to fix it.

In the months ahead, however, there will be a need to make some decisions from the FC Dallas front office. Who among this group gets further opportunities? Who gets a loan? And who comes back for that next year of possibility and development? Keep in mind the spring sprint season will be its own beast, and I have no doubt that newly signed William Gabriel will be one of those important pieces to build around.

We are going live tonight to begin thinking about it, about how FC Dallas will handle some key absences this weekend, and how North Texas SC can turn the corner back into championship territory.

3rd Degree the Podcast #375

3rd_Degree — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:47:00 GMT

Surprise! A Monday episode of 3rd Degree the Podcast! On this episode, your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dennis McGowan, and Buzz Carrick - kick off the episode with FC Dallas vs Austin FC. It was a flat, poor game, interrupted by the excitement of a rabbit. Go rabbit!! FCD got a point and brought home Copa Tejas, so there's that. Is there much value to this game? LAFC is next, with both teams missing some pieces due to the international window.

Dallas Trinity was the bright spot of the week, playing their possession-passing game on the road at Fort Lauderdale and getting the 3 points. Some new faces got starts and played well. "Flexibility" was the word from the coach, much to Buzz's chagrin. The Godlen Girls are at Lexington next; will we see the same XI or some new combination?

Finally, North Texas SC put up a stinker at lowly Rapids 2 and cost themselves a playoff spot. NTSC was one of four teams chasing three spots and didn't come up with the goods, so they are now done for the year.

Music by Pappy Check!

It All Comes Down to This: North Texas SC Playoff Scenarios

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 14:17:46 GMT

Hopefully not for the last time this season but thanks to the North Texas SC media team for these amazing graphics.

I am writing this on Saturday night, as FC Dallas concludes a disappointing 0-0 draw at home with Austin FC. Yes, they claim the Copa Tejas for the year, which isn’t nothing, but I echo head coach Eric Quill who sounded frustrated after the game. A late save from a Logan Farrington shot thwarted the full three points that Dallas probably deserved.

At least we will always have the Copa Tejas bunny.

North Texas now gets our full attention as they play their final game of the 2026 MLS Next Pro regular season with everything to play for.

Our boys from Mansfield are traveling to altitude to face the lowly Colorado Rapids 2 to confirm their spot in the postseason. You can argue they are fortunate to be in this position, with all the ups and downs of this long season, or you can argue they should probably be in a higher position with a few more bounces having gone their way. Regardless, this where they are.

Here’s the lay of the land.

Minnesota United FC 2 are just above North Texas with 42 points.

North Texas SC are in 8th with 40 points.

Tacoma Defiance and San Jose Quakes II are below them with 39 points, battling for that final play-in spot.

The possibilities are fairly straightforward. In short, things could go against North Texas SC in such a way that they crash out of the postseason. Or they could go in their favor that North Texas leapfrog Minnesota and avoid the play-in game. None of the final four teams vying for these three spots play each other, so there is the healthy potential for chaos.

On the podcast, Jose and Colin were straightforward - North Texas need to win against the worst team in the Western conference. Any other result opens the door for a disappointing result, and in truth, no team wants to back in to the playoffs. You want to end the regular season with some confidence.

I tried to lay out the various possibilities below:

Best case: Defeat the Rapids 2 and North Texas SC end with 43 points and CLINCH a playoff spot regardless. If Minnesota loses, North Texas gets the coveted 7th place spot, avoiding the play-in game.

Middling case: Draw and PK Shootout, end with 42 points. Unless Tacoma scores a bunch of goals in a win, North Texas would at least get the 9th place spot via goal differential.

Less than Middling Case: Draw, end with 41 points. We would need at least one of the teams below them - Tacoma or the Quakes to lose to get in. 8th or 9th seed final position.

Worst case: Loss, end season with 40 points. Again, we need at least one of the teams below them - Tacoma or the Quakes - to lose. 8th or 9th seed final position.

The teams below/in contention with them:

Minnesota United FC 2: 42 points, at home versus LAFC 2
Tacoma Defiance: 39 points, at home versus Timbers 2
San Jose Quakes 2: 39 points, away at Vancouver 2

Really, North Texas should be positioned well enough to punch their ticket into the postseason, but I’m with the boys from the pod. It’s time to win. It’s time to exorcise whatever demons remain from a very inconsistent season and do everything you can for that 7th seed. If so, who knows what might happen?

It’s time!

Afterburn Soccer Show - September 15, 2026

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:39:13 GMT

We are back after a Labor Day break.

And we have a lot on the buffet table as FC Dallas are on a roll, climbing to 3rd in the Major League Western Conference table after three straight wins. The team is clicking. They are dawgs. Quill has this group of guys fighting for every opportunity, and we get to enjoy.

Colin, Jose, and Nathan take time to give some shout outs to the guys stepping up and getting better across the board.

We also break down the playoff scenarios for North Texas SC, but Jose lays it out pretty straightforward - North Texas needs to be the Rapids in Colorado. Win, and they are in.

Thanks for listening!

Afterburn Soccer Show - September 15, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:38:00 GMT

3rd Degree the Podcast #374

3rd_Degree — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:51:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dennic McGowan, and Buzz Carrick - almost had a perfect win week to talk about, except that North Texas SC wrecked it.

The podcast starts with FC Dallas and their double-win week. Two quality wins versus Minnesota and Portland take the streak to three straight. FCD got it done without much of Petar Musa and even a game without Osazr Urhohide. Ran Binyamin at wingback, Daniel back in net, Logan Farrington is back in form, and Joaquín Valiente is balling out hard. Plus, Peter thinks Shaq Moore is FCD's MVP. Austin is next.

Dallas Trinity won again; they are up to two straight. Cyera Hintzen might have had the best assist we've ever seen in Dallas. Jasmin Hamid is dominating off the right wing, and 17-year-old Meila Brewer signed a contract this week and immediately started at center back. The Golden Girls head to Fort Lauderdale on Friday.

North Texas SC faced Houston twice this week, losing on Wednesday, then getting a tie on Sunday before grabbing some extra points with a shootout win. They are clinging to the 8th playoff seed and could see a play-in game. A result in Colorado against the worst team in the West still matters, or Los Toritos could miss out.

Music by Pappy Check!

Live: Afterburn Soccer Show at 7 PM CST

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 23:36:41 GMT

Welcome back.

We missed you all on Labor Day, but that’s life.

With a ton of soccer action since then, we can celebrate FC Dallas going unbeaten with three straight wins. The boys are getting the job done, at home and away, and it’s so much fun to watch. Even when missing Petar Musa, other guys are stepping up.

Huge shoutout to Valiente, one of the signings of the season.

North Texas SC has a single regular season game ahead of them this weekend on Sunday afternoon. Win, and they will secure their postseason ticket. Of course, if they don’t, their fate is in the hands of a few other results. We’ll try to make sense of it tonight.

We’ll take your comments and questions live.

See you in a bit!

What Wednesday Meant for FC Dallas and North Texas SC

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:56:47 GMT

Wednesday was an action-packed night for FC Dallas nerds. For a few minutes, we were preparing ourselves for another set of wins to put in our pockets in what is proving to be a joyful, awesome sprint to end the 2026 season in Major League Soccer and MLS Next Pro. Heck, the combination from Sam Sarver to Santi Moreno is the magical sauce we love from this team and Quill’s never-say-die approach to results.

In that moment, we also witnessed Edouard Nys doing the kinds of things that make him such an intriguing talent for the reserve team, a blast from distance that put the squad ahead in a match over the Dynamo that would have been a huge boost up the standings into playoff contention.

But, this season has been a weird one for North Texas. That euphoria did not last.

North Texas SC would go on to give up another goal, at the 100’ mark, dooming them to not even a singular point at home. That was not good.

Here’s what Wednesday meant for both teams with the end of the regular season drawing rapidly to a close.

For North Texas SC…

Up 2-1 at the 83rd minute mark against a very good Houston Dynamo 2 team, North Texas SC appeared to be in control. They could grind out the game. They could see out the win. Their rise up the Western Conference standings could have gone as high (theoretically) as 5th or 6th with two more games remaining.

But this young side fell apart. This isn’t a surprise. We’ve seen it all season that this group of guys, for whatever reason, have a slow start or give up something late. If there was an easy diagnosis, John Gall would hire you to be on his staff. Youth? Inexperience? Lack of cohesion? All of the above?

The good news is that San Jose Quakes 2 lost, thereby keeping North Texas in possession of that no. 8 seed. In short, they are still in contention for a play-in spot to the MLS Next Pro playoffs with two matches remaining.

The first match is at Mansfield against the Dynamo on Saturday, the second of the double-header this week, who are going to relish playing spoiler. After the way the game ended, both teams are going to be up for this. Dynamo have the chance to rise up to the second seed if they get a win, despite already being locked down for postseason play. But North Texas SC really must win. They need points. They can’t afford to back into the playoffs.

All is not lost if things don’t go well at home, as North Texas have a final away game against the Rapids up in Denver. That’s a tough place to play. Weather and altitude are tricky, but even then, this young side must get points if they want to extend their season with the margins so slim.

That must start at home this weekend.

For FC Dallas…

Right now, the Burn are sitting at 4th place in the MLS Western Conference after the 2-1 win over Minnesota United, and there is everything to play for. With 10 games remaining, the next at home against the Portland Timbers, the sky is the limit for this team. Could they leapfrog Los Angeles FC or Houston in the short term? Absolutely. That road form is doing this team wonders.

Heck, with those amount of points still out there, the Supporters’ Shield is unlikely but mathematically possible. Nashville are well out in front of everyone else at 53 points, but they did just lose. The next run of games are going to be unpredictable, an opportunity for chaos to reign supreme.

In the big picture, this season has been a wild one for FC Dallas fans. We’ve had our moments of hair-pulling frustration with dropped points at home, a weird schedule, and very uneven roster contributions. And then this team reels off tough road point after road point. There is something in this group of guys, something that won’t quit.

3rd Degree the Podcast #373

3rd_Degree — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:21:00 GMT

It's a triple-win edition of 3rd Degree the Podcast; all three (currently playing) pro teams brought home the W.

Your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dennis McGowan, and Buzz Carrick start off with FC Dallas, digging into the massive goal-fest comeback against Sporting KC. Petar Musa was great, but is he hurt? Farrington looked sharp; is he back? Ramiro might have had his worst game yet; can he be dropped? FCD is bleeding goals and winning anyway! But why is the question? The window closed, and FCD got a Job. Will the new signing have an impact in 2026? FCD gets a double game week on the road at Minnesota and at home versus Portland, two winnable games.

Dallas Trinity played their best game of the year, rolling over Brooklyn. A small tactical change proved the difference. Castain and Hamid powered the win. Attendance took a tick up. Ally Cook was lost for the season, but now Lauren Flynn might be healthy; does that change things against DC?

Lastly, North Texas rallied because Diego Garcia had a smashing 2nd half to torch Real Monarchs 4-1. NTSC is playing well, but it may not matter with two home games against Dynamo Dos this week.

Music by Pappy Check!

Weekend Recap: FC Dallas and North Texas SC Come Up Big

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 22:13:31 GMT

Huge Petar Musa PK win! Thanks FC Dallas Media Crew!

Are you not entertained?

What a weekend for FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club! Both clubs needed wins back at home, and both clubs found a way. Let’s break down what it means.

Note: There will be no livestream today on Labor Day due to other commitments, but stay tuned for a makeup show sometime this week.

FC Dallas: Give the Ball to Petar Musa

For our boys in Frisco, back home in front of a friendly crowd, Sporting Kansas City, the lowly SKC team that haven’t been able to do much of anything, appeared to be the right recipe for a squad that needed home-cooking. This was going to be a dominant performance after two months on the road. The question wasn’t who was going to score a hat trick — but just how many.

And then, well, I turned the game on to see that early goal… and then the second.

If I had a fear after the shellacking in Vancouver, it was that the defense would lose any consistency at all. Yes, that defeat wasn’t entirely on our back line, but we’ve been pretty vocal on the podcast on how the defense can seem to be put together via duct tape. Yes, we have Osaze and Shaq and Nolan. They are quality, but it’s the other pieces that make or break them. Nolan, too, is young, so he’s making mistakes here and there. Our backups are decent and have surprised with a good shift or too, but there isn’t a lot to turn to if any of those guys come up lame.

The defense wasn’t entirely blame for the opening two goals. Our midfield has been woeful, at worse, and disconnected, at best. When Ramiro was out with an injury, maybe we had missed his veteran presence, but the Brazilian hasn’t quite looked confident working his way to full fitness. Midfield turnovers are the Achilles heel for FC Dallas this season, and when your key midfielder is coughing them up, expect a long night.

But the great equalizer this season has been our attack. Yes, Farrington can go hot and cold. Moreno is not at 100%. But these guys time and time again can pull something out of nothing. Look at the late stunner against St Louis City, a result that looks pretty great considering what they did to Vancouver this past weekend.

The team never looked panicked after conceding two goals. Instead, our offense went to work. Petar Musa finished the night with two goals and an assist, tying club records. With plenty of games to go, he is going to break that club record. Bernard Kamungo dazzled on the ball and delivered a delicious assist of his own. Valiente is one of the best bargain transfers FC Dallas had had recently. Kaick got into the action with a blast of a shot from the midfield.

Sporting Kansas City found an equalizer of their own, but for once, FC Dallas were blessed by the VAR gods. After review, it was clear that Musa had been fouled inside the box. He stepped up and slotted home the go ahead goal.

After needing a full 90 to take out the league’s bottom dwellers, I don’t blame you if you are riding some anxious nerves about the coming weeks’ games. FC Dallas have a tendency to play up and down to their opponents. The win is good, but there are troubling signs that need improvement rather quickly if Dallas wants to make a run in the playoffs.

Overall though, it was a splendid show for the fans who had waited a long time to see Toyota Stadium emerge anew from its construction cocoon over the summer. As long as FC Dallas keeps scoring, maybe the defense isn’t our biggest concern.

“We spotted them two goals, and to come back on a night like tonight, after being away from home, to have that happen in the first 10 minutes was tough to take and swallow,” head coach Eric Quill told media. “But they keep proving themselves again and again that they’re never going to turn over and die. They’re going to roll their sleeves up and find a way. Do we want it to be a much different type of game? Of course we do, but it is what it is. It happened. I’ve seen a lot of teams where that game probably ends up 4-0, and you’re in your locker room with your head down. We’re 4-3 winners.”

Heads up - lots of keen observers noticed that Petar Musa went off the field cradling his arm after apparently injuring himself on that late foul that setup the penalty kick. It looked like a shoulder stinger — or worse a separated shoulder. Good news, the Croatian national team called him up for their next set of friendlies, so barring some unforeseen news, Musa may just need an extra day of rest.

The result has FC Dallas in 4th place, locked in a battle with Los Angeles FC and St Louis.

North Texas SC: This Team Still Has Another Gear to Unlock

As for the young’uns, North Texas have been their own source of frustration for us this year, playing brilliantly in one game and then collapsing in the next. After earning a vital road point in St Louis, the reserve side returned to Mansfield in hopes of getting their feet under them. Their razor thin margins mean every remaining match is like a playoff game in its own right. If they can run off a series of wins, they will clinch a postseason berth. Mess around with draws and dropped points, the road gets much more difficult.

On Friday night, though, facing a Real Monarchs team that can be good in its own right, the youngsters played up to their pedigree. Homegrown Diego Garcia, one of the engines for this side for the past few years, continued his long recovery from injury with a goal to follow up Nicholas Simmonds’ 5th of the year. From struggling in the first half to coming out of the gates with a renewed focus, North Texas SC coasted the rest of the way.

Heck, Caleb Swann, who I have penciled in for heavy rotation minutes next year for FC Dallas, scored his second of his career.

Álvaro, the FC Dallas defender brought over from Portugal as a project, scored late for his first professional goal, no doubt making a case to be in the mix for an FC Dallas defensive core that will need talent next season.

All in all, this was a come-from-behind win, maybe not as dramatic as what FC Dallas had to do on Saturday, but a huge confidence boost with two straight matches against Houston Dynamo 2.

“Really pleased with the three points. We were disappointed to go down 1-0, especially after creating chances in the first half that we didn’t convert,” head coach John Gall told media after the game. “At halftime, we talked about being more aggressive and adjusted our press. I thought we imposed ourselves much better in the second half. We scored early, Diego Garcia came up big and, at 2-1, I felt the game was going our way. It was important to excite the fans in our new home, and I think we did that. We showed how strong we can be going forward, but we still have some things to clean up defensively as a group. We play Houston twice next week, and they’re a dangerous team, so we need to learn from those mistakes quickly. Overall, I’m really happy with the second-half performance. We thoroughly deserved the win."

Standing wise, North Texas SC need every stinking point they can get over the next couple of weeks. They are sitting at 8th place right now, but Minnesota United FC 2 are breathing down their necks. Two wins this week against Houston should put them in safer territory, but it won’t be easy. The Dynamo are a strong team.

Afterburn Soccer Show - Aug. 31, 2026

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:43:11 GMT

Hey, folks, as we launched the stream on Monday night, my workhorse Mac mini M4 decided to crash.

But I was able to restart the stream and we got through a fun one, even as a virus hits the Hill household. FC Dallas and North Texas SC are finding results. They may not be pretty. We may have question marks. But we also have joy.

Thanks to Colin and Jose for carrying the show.

On to next week!

Afterburn Soccer Show - Aug. 31, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:43:11 GMT