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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

3rd Degree the Podcast #372

3rd_Degree — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 09:29:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dennis McGowan, and Buzz Carrick - break down the FC Dallas miracle comeback at St Louis City. The good and the ugly. FCD has traversed the epic road slog with a fantastic record and has put themselves in position to make a great push in the final third of the season. 12 games, 8 at home, remain... can they overcome the poor home form from the start of the season? Sporting KC is in town this weekend; could there be a couple of changes in the Los Toros XI?

On the other hand, things are not so great downtown, as the Golden Girls of Dallas Trinity remain winless. Coach Lee Nguyen is playing Luchi-ball, and, similarly, his team struggles to score. Are there some solutions on the roster? And just what is going on with the greater Super League numbers? Trinity gets bottom dwellers Brooklyn next at the Cotton Bowl. Better win this one.

North Texas SC has tied 4 in a row. They aren't great, but they are scrappy and just might sneak into the playoffs. But they should be playing kids anyway. They play on Friday this week, not the same day as FCD. What a concept.

Music by Pappy Check!

LIVE: Feasting on Road Points with FC Dallas

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 21:50:26 GMT

Let’s feast!

I’m combining my normal weekend retrospective with our live show article today, because we have so much fun stuff to talk about.

FC Dallas has laid out a banquet to feast upon, including a come from behind, ugly, messy result in St Louis, 3-3.

In short, I’m very impressed with the way St Louis is taking to the field and the things they are doing. Their attack exposed our defense. This was the second embarrassing defensive performance in a row from FC Dallas (ugh, Vancouver), and it should ring some alarm bells for the club. At the same time, FC Dallas are the new era GOONIES, never say die, squad. Logan Farrington and Sebastian Ibeagha contributed to late equalizers that we probably didn’t deserve but that this team will take.

In particular, even if Sam Sarver hasn’t been an outright superstar, when he gets on the field, he works his ass off and creates opportunities for his teammates. Is it every time he gets on the field? No. But is it enough that he should continue to get more minutes? Absolutely.

At some point, Quill and company need to come to terms with this roster and figure out who is going to get the job done on a consistent basis — offensively and defensively.

We have transfer rumors below, but this team really needs a legit 6. And they need to overpay for that player. They need to zero out the bank account if need be. Surely, such a player who can really help spur the attack and protect the back line is out there?

But a point on the road after being down 3-1? We’ll take it.

North Texas SC also grabbed a massive 2 points on the road with a draw at St Louis City SC 2 and a penalty kick shootout, their third in the row. This is not what I thought would be the marker for this team, but I will take it. They remain in the mix for a postseason spot, especially with some home games ahead that could really drive them up the table.

Slade Starnes, after we did a nice piece on him last week, offered the assist for the equalizing goal. I’m ready for him to be FC Dallas’ next big defender in 2027. His leadership has been key for this young team to stay in the mix of things.

Also, shout out to John Gall for making history with 73 games coached, the most in club history. I hinted on a recent pod that surely there were question marks about whether or not this group of players needed a different voice from a managerial perspective. Guys can tune out their coaches from time to time. It happens. But I think these past three results, 6 points from 2 home matches and 1 road match, shows that Gall has their attention. Starnes would agree.

Do you want transfer rumors?

Tom Bogert reports that FC Dallas is working on a strange deal.

@BorrenErlend 1st. \n\nNo deal set yet and other Euro clubs trying, but Dallas working. Would be U-22 initiative.\n\nJob, 20, has 7g/8a in 20 apps this season ","username":"tombogert","name":"Tom Bogert","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/2013297606454104064/Eai8kZJL_normal.jpg","date":"2026-08-31T16:17:46.000Z","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/HRED6TZXYAAtoY3.jpg","link_url":"https://t.co/w2gftRawtv"}],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":15,"retweet_count":15,"like_count":239,"impression_count":30429,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"video_preview_media_key":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

Strange for two reasons - FC Dallas doesn’t need a winger. Also, this guy isn’t a 6 and isn’t a wing back.

But it may not be so strange noting that this young 21 year old with a super Biblical name can play more centrally. Is he a replacement for Santi Moreno, who likely won’t get purchased at the end of the year? Is he just another high value prospect that FC Dallas will want to flip down the line? Or could he learn some wing back?

I don’t know.

I want a DP midfielder, to be honest. Maybe all of those are no longer available?

We go live at 7 PM CST to talk it all out and both commiserate and celebrate a wild week for FC Dallas and North Texas SC. See you on YouTube!

One-on-One with Slade Starnes

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:48:36 GMT

Slade Starnes. Photo courtesy of the North Texas SC media team.

In a span of nine months, Slade Starnes, the 6’3'“ FC Dallas homegrown defender, has elevated himself - his game, his standing, his dream.

On November 16, 2025, captaining the SMU Mustangs, Slade led his side to an ACC championship. He was named a MAC Herman Semifinalist for his efforts as a defender and leader. More importantly, his agent got the long awaited phone call, a nod that he had hoped and prayed and, most importantly, worked for — FC Dallas was ready to sign the homegrown to a contract ahead of the 2026 season, a contract inked on January 5, 2026.

Afterburn Soccer had the privilege of speaking with the North Texas defender as his side preps for a crucial match against St Louis City 2 on Friday, August 28.

As a homegrown, Slade has roots in the FC Dallas Academy system, a system that has long served as crucible to develop players at every level of the game, even the World Cup. He got his start with the Dallas Texans, but when injuries disrupted his path alongside a global pandemic, a spot emerged in the FCD U17s, with current North Texas head coach John Gall, then working in the academy system, finding promise and a spot for the stout defender.

What is it that keeps the academy turning out intriguing prospects?

“One thing that FC Dallas does is always try to progress guys to the next age group or next level. If you are good at U14 you are playing at U15, if you are good with U15 you are playing with U17s… and so on,” he told Afterburn. “It’s an onward push up. When I saw guys that were my age that were not that much better than me but a little bit better, they got moved up. I played with Justin Che, Colin Smith, and Antonio Carrera. I was playing in college as a freshman, and they were playing for my dream club. I was right there with them. It shows how small the margins are.”

Choosing college remains a viable pathway for many soccer players with additional time to mature intellectually as well as athletically, something that many Major League Soccer front offices keep an eye on, but for Starnes, he went from Furman College (alma mater of former FC Dallas man Walker Zimmerman) to SMU with one goal in mind.

“Going to SMU, my vision was always to sign for FC Dallas,” he said, noting that the promise of captaining a team closer to Frisco would, he hoped, make a strong case to the FCD front office for a contract.

“Definitely during my college career, there were a lot of unknowns. FC Dallas always watches the college guys, especially the ones they think have a good profile. I knew they liked something about me,” he smiled. “I trained with the first team last summer, playing with the FC Dallas U23s. That was a good experience to see Coach Quill again, as I had trained with North Texas when he was there. Just trying to be memorable, telling the coach, I am going into my senior year. I would love for you to watch me play. I was fighting for myself. In the back of my mind, I had the mentality to go to SMU, do as well as I possibly can, and trust that things would turn out well.”

When the call came, even though it wasn’t always easy to read the tea leaves on how interested FC Dallas was in the defender, it was relief. It was excitement. It was his dream come true.

“I want to be a center back for FC Dallas, at whatever cost. I want to be wearing and playing in the red kit. I know it won’t be easy,” he said, his passion seeping through the Zoom call. “I took the road less traveled. I know that my time is coming.”

He owes gratitude in particular to coaches who continued to invest in him, mentor him, and challenge him.

“100% John Gall,” he said. “When I finished my U17 year, when COVID hit, I was a fringe player. I would come in the last ten minutes to clear out the headers. If we were losing, I would try to go score a set piece. I wasn’t integrated into the main team. When we came back from COVID, Coach Gall was named the U17 coach, and by the end of the season, I was named captain. He harps on me. He pushes me. He asks me to lead in ways that I am not even thinking of. He puts my bad moments at half speed to make an example of me. He is also someone who helped bring me back to the club. He was in my corner. He is someone I am so grateful to have grown under him and now to play and captain under him.”

That John Gall now leads North Texas made the transition much more comfortable, even if it wasn’t necessarily the plan for Slade to spend the year with the second team. The defender picked up an injury in preseason in Portugal. As he returned to fitness, it was clear there was a gap that he would have to work on.

“I missed all the preseason games. I was still involved in training when I came back, but I was still a few steps behind from guys like Shaq, Ibeagha, and Abubakar. These guys are MLS veterans, and when the refs come in to give presentations on the new rules, they are dabbing up these guys,” he laughed. “Me, I’m coming in as a young college center back. Being a center back is about trust. For me, now that I am part of the second team, the goal is to build as much trust as possible.”

I asked him, as many sports reporters do, what his welcome to Major League Soccer moment or pro soccer in general was.

“For Major League Soccer, when we were in Portugal in preseason, I was assigned to mark Lalas Abubakar on set pieces. And it was almost impossible,” he responded. “He holds your arms really strong, he pushes them down, and he slides you across. Luckily he didn’t score. And I was like, I can’t defend set pieces the way I used to.”

MLS Next Pro, likewise, also proved punishing.

“My attention detail, these little moments, they are what cost you. You can play well 90 minutes, but the opponent slaps your wrist and suddenly scores a goal,” he shared. “Early in the season, we played against Portland away. Our left center back had stepped up, so I shifted over. A midfielder made a run in the middle and scored. These are different examples - at the pro level, the smallest details matter. You get punished if you aren’t taking care of those.

“In my previous career in college, you can get away with those. Working with Coach Matt Hedges, he was my idol growing up, someone I looked up to very much. We do defensive sessions together. He has been integral to my progress.”

Beyond soccer, Slade recognizes off-the-field habits also make a difference. He eschews heading home to lounge around and play video games or just nap after a tough morning practice. Rather, he looks to round out his day with practices to keep him learning, growing, and building relationships. One of his goals is to get better at Spanish, so he can communicate with members of the first team.

Another crucial driver for his wellness, his balance, and his focus is faith, also one of the bits of glue holding North Texas SC together. In an early post-game interview, fellow teammate Nys remarked about the importance of faith in the locker room to bring guys together, one of the ways Slade leads alongside guys like Timothy Ospina.

“I grew up in a Christian household where we can decide whether we live for ourselves or we can live for the One who created us. As I got older in college, I felt like God could do something in my life. Having my identity in how soccer goes is not sustainable but having your identity something that is never changing gives you purpose. For me, having your identity on where the ball bounces on a given day is hard. One week, you are on top of the league. The next you are getting bounced 3-0 at home,” he said. "For me, (faith) is the center.”

That drive has guided Slade Starnes in a challenging year as captain of North Texas SC. Certainly, he is surrounded by talented guys who push each other, from the attacking skills of Edouard Nys to the midfield leadership of Caleb Swann, but the results have been a roller coaster. One game, the team looks dominant and unbeatable. In the next, they collapse in a poor, disconnected performance.

But the season has its bright spots, including a fun 3-0 romp at home to open the brand Texas Health Mansfield Stadium, the culmination of years of investment and planning to expand professional soccer in Dallas-Ft Worth.

“Mansfield is amazing. In college, I used to watch North Texas at Choctaw with little to no replay and football lines. I could feel it in my chest, they needed something more,” his eyes lit up. “Mansfield is everything I had hoped for and more with the live star-spangled banner, with fireworks, with the lights going crazy whenever we score, with music being played, with fans being close to the stadium, with my family right there on the line so I can see them during the game. Mansfield has really been home. For us to get results there so far has been great. Going to a penalty kick shootout with the fans right behind the goal, those things make a difference.”

The presence of fans closer to the action, the intensity, is a needed step up not just for the overall product and experience but for the players. Slade relishes the chance to interact, staying late for autograph sessions, wishing he could give away his cleats and kit without being fined. He recalls signing shirts, cups, and jerseys — anything the fans handed him.

“Coach Gall reminds us that these families are paying money to watch us play. Go out and give them everything,” he said. “They embrace the club. We need to embrace them as much as possible.”

With the fans support, the results have improved, notably a penalty kick shootout win over MLS Next Pro Western Conference leaders Austin FC II at home. It’s not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction in a season where every step forward has often been met by a step back.

“Having players come in and out is certainly a reason - we haven’t had the same starting lineup hardly ever,” Slade responded on his thoughts on why the team has struggled for consistency. “Nor do we always train with the same guys throughout the week. It’s easy to make that excuse, and at the end of the day that’s the nature of a second team. A lot of the top teams put out the same lineup each and every week. We have a lot of guys who train with the first team until we travel, and then we are coaching them up for an hour before the game. Like in Portland, we struggled in the first half, and in the second half we do better as we get our bearings. Its been helpful in the last two weeks to have Alvaro and Caleb come down, Nick Simmonds more consistently. Personally in my career, I haven’t had it like this before. It’s been very difficult from a locker room perspective. We have to respond.”

Responding, for Slade, starts with the back line, with his defensive focus and leadership. He acknowledges that they have the pieces, including teammates who week in and out push him. Guys like Edouard Nys and Enzo Newman can do things on the ball that force him outside of his comfort zone, and that competition has been good. But in crucial moments, the team must do better.

“For sure, our defensive mistakes,” Slade acknowledged as the priority. “I would include myself in that. Giving teams opportunities to score. We change our formation to a 4-4-2 so we are harder to break down but then we concede set pieces out of nowhere. We give chances for teams to dribble out of the box. It is minimizing mistakes as much as possible. And let Nys and our guys win games for us.”

Despite the inconsistent results, the locker room remains a positive environment. The past week, picking up 4 points at home, is a sign that there is still much to play for. With six games left, four of which are at home, North Texas SC have lots of room to make some noise and climb into contention.

A rematch with St Louis City 2 awaits tonight.

“We know St Louis is going to be hungry. Typically at home, they field some good guys, like Night Pickering who I played with in the FC Dallas academy. We have a strong team as well. We are hungry,” he said. “They are sitting comfortably in fifth place, and we are right on the edge. We are going with that mission in mind.”

Even as they prepare for St Louis on Friday, though, the tall defender is focused on the big picture, the long term, where he wants to be.

“It’s been an interesting year because in the first team locker room, I am a rookie young trying to prove myself, taking any opportunity I can get. Then I go across the hallway to the second team locker room, and I am a captain of the team. It’s been an interesting dynamic. I always try to pride myself to be same person if possible, but it’s just how it is when you have a voice in one locker room and not a voice in another locker room,” he offered. “I hope as the season ends I can be with the first team and in training. Technically, my contract is up in June of 2027, but I have options, and I hope the team sees something in me and extends me for extra time and help me blossom into the player I can be.”

Again, Slade only wants to wear the FC Dallas red in front of a vibrant crowd in Frisco. The timing is on his side with a couple of first team veterans who have contracts running out at the end of the year opening up the need for center backs. And more poignantly, he follows a line of defenders who cut their teeth in Frisco and became something special.

We closed the interview by giving Slade a chance to name his all-time favorite FC Dallas players. It was an easy question, a softball for a guy who grew up loving this club as more than as a player in the academy, but as a fan.

“Matt Hedges. Top of the list. I tell him that, but he kind of brushes it off,” he beamed. “Walker Zimmerman, for sure. A Furman player, too.”

But it’s not just defenders. He marveled at the play of Mauro Diaz in that legendary 2016 season for FC Dallas. He now has a blossoming relationship with Kenny Cooper, a club legend who now he regularly meets for coffee and to glean wisdom and nuggets of faith inspiration.

But one more —

“Zach Loyd. Zach Loyd is my guy,” Slade sounded reverent. “My freshman year, I got to play in high school. I went to a local school called Trinity, and he was named JV coach, who the coaches introduced as a former FC Dallas player. I said no way. He’s a quiet guy, and he would be quiet in training. Now, he started a ministry called Tenfifteen Ministries, based on Romans 10:15, and he is the head coach for the FC Dallas U23s. He is someone in the faith that I look up to. He is so humble. Those are guys who I watched from afar and some of them I am blessed to call friends.”

3rd Degree the Podcast Special Episode - Matt Valentine and Sam Morton, owners of Dallas Trinity and Atlético Dallas

3rd_Degree — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 23:12:42 GMT

On this special edition of 3rd Degree the Podcast, Dennis McGowan sits down with Dallas Trinity's new owners, Matt Valentine and Sam Morton.

While most of the talk centers around the ladies' team, Valentine and Morton expounded on the soon-to-launch men's team, Atlético Dallas, as well. Topics of discussion include tickets and pricing, the game day experience at the Cotton Bowl, training facilities, on-field expectations, accessible pricing, business targets, and fan accessibility.

A very special thanks to Valentine and Morton for not just sitting down with us but opening up about the state of both teams in a transparent way.

Music by Pappy Check.

Breaking News: Petar Musa Is Staying in Frisco?

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:57:54 GMT

If you wanted to wake up to good news this morning, more than our latest podcast to drop, you got it.

Croatian Football on X delivered relief to anxious FC Dallas fans this morning that Petar Musa, our Golden Boot leader, is staying in Texas. He will potentially “sign a new, significantly improved multi-year contract” to continue to ply his trade here in Major League Soccer. This is in response to the continual chatter and suggested interest from other leagues.

At 28 years old, Musa is definitely in his prime, but he is also that age where some bigger clubs may not want to meet the high asking price that FC Dallas and company desired. In return, Dallas gets to lock him down, reward him for his leadership and play, and continue to chart a course into the postseason. Let’s see if they can also find another piece or two to help that late season push.

I mentioned on the podcast last night - FC Dallas fans are unaccustomed to having a Golden Boot leader on our roster.

Now, we get to savor his talent even more.

Other News from X:

A source told me that Da’vian Kimbrough, the young phenom who came over from Sacramento Republic to join North Texas SC, did receive a call-up to the Mexico U17s. The bright talent, unfortunately, suffered an injury during a recent match against Austin FC II and will have to miss the opportunity. With that said, the youngster should still be a lock for the U17 World Cup.

What a statement for North Texas SC to continue to help populate various youth national teams through their talent pipeline.

@AustinFCII last week.\n\nShould still be in the mix for the U17 World Cup for Mexico.\n\n#DTID @northtexasSC","username":"afterburnsoccer","name":"Nathan @ AFTERBURN Soccer","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/1899221004125429760/qNexi7mj_normal.jpg","date":"2026-08-24T16:00:09.000Z","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":1,"retweet_count":2,"like_count":4,"impression_count":870,"expanded_url":null,"video_url":null,"video_preview_media_key":null,"belowTheFold":true}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

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Afterburn Soccer Show - August 24, 2026

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:44:06 GMT

We had a great show last night, with a few audio fixes even though our boy Collin glitched via that cellphone coverage out in Texas.

Once you get past that, this was a great show.

Collin, Jose, and Nathan broke down a full week for FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club, including a big away win at Real Salt Lake followed by an utter collapse at Vancouver. Was it just a case of hitting weary legs? Was Quill right to rotate? Should we panic? In short, no.

Collin gave us some hints about potential transfer options, as we await confirmation of Deedson’s move away from FC Dallas and the possibility of other players finding new venues. Lots of uncertainty, for sure, but there is a sense that this team wants to get better and plug some holes down the stretch.

North Texas SC meanwhile grabbed 4 points at home, which is solid enough to keep them in the potential postseason picture. They have a huge away match on Friday against St Louis City SC 2. The good news — four home games follow, meaning this team has the potential to pick up points and fight for a spot if they can keep putting it all together.

We closed out with predictions:

Jose and Collin pick North Texas SC to lose at St Louis; I’m hoping for another road point or two.

We are also feeling confident, for the most part, that FC Dallas can get a point or an outright win at St Louis.

Thanks for subscribing and supporting!

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Afterburn Soccer Show - August 24, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:44:06 GMT

3rd Degree the Podcast #371

3rd_Degree — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:23:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dennis McGowan, and Buzz Carrick - have lots to discuss with the three pro teams in action.

First, FC Dallas had two more games in their brutal road stretch, including a saved win at Real Salt Lake and a rotation meltdown at Vancouver. Peta Musa and Joaquín Valiente are on fire, but the defense looks tired and burned out. And it sure looks like something is up with Logan Farrington. The final brutal road game is at St Louis City, back to the FCD best XI, yes? Surly? And lastly, Buzz predicts a player sale, and it's not who you think.

Dallas Trinity falls to Carolina 3-1. Coach Nguyen wants the Golden Girls to play like the great Barcelona teams, and they are in a way, minus the goals. Camryn Lancaster was back and got an assist. Carissa Boeckmann looks like a fantastic addition. But the team has injury problems already, and now they go on the road against an excellent Sporting JAX side.

Lastly, North Texas SC picked up a couple of shootout wins and is actually improving the use of the side for development of FCD players (small sample), just not the real kids. Now they also play St Louis but two days before FCD, allowing for better synergy between the two teams, thanks to St Louis City scheduling. What a concept.

Music by Pappy Check!

Live Tonight: Afterburn Soccer breaks down a fun and wild road trip for FC Dallas

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:10:58 GMT

Hey, subscribers!

First off, we appreciate you!

What a wild and fun week it is to get together with some soccer nerds and think about FC Dallas picking up a road win in Salt Lake City, via a late stunner from Ran Binyamin, and then going to Vancouver and collapsing in the wet conditions of the Pacific Northwest. Are you feeling good about the week, all in all?

FC Dallas needs a bit of a break, and the schedule slows down a bit for them this week before they get back on the road.

North Texas SC also had a solid week. While they didn’t get those home wins they needed, they came out against two tough teams and grabbed draws and penalty kick shootout wins to stay in the mix for playoff positioning. Once again, we are left with questions about this young team. How can they put it all together?

We go live on YouTube at 7 PM CST to chat, take your questions, and have some unfortunate.

See you in a bit!

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Staying in Contention: FC Dallas and North Texas Finish Exhausting But Intriguing Week

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 04:22:03 GMT

The FC Dallas media crew do the dirty work even when it hurts. Thank you, FC Dallas media crew, for letting us borrow images on sorrowful evenings.

When the final whistle blew in Vancouver on Saturday night, FC Dallas players looked gassed, and they should. They had just wracked up some serious frequent flyer miles after a brutal 3rd game in like 8 days, all away from home.

In Salt Lake City, FC Dallas summoned the guile and grit they have shown all season under Eric Quill. When they drop home points or need a big result, this squad goes on the road and carves something out. They did so against RSL with a 4-3 smash and grab win. Petar Musa, in particular, was special, earning a brace that leaves him in prime golden boot position at this point in the season. It was a true team performance with Valiente adding his first MLS goal and Binyamin getting a late winner. To get such a result already made the week a success.

But up in the Pacific Northwest, things did not go so well.

Vancouver smote FC Dallas, 5-0. While there were some bright spots, including homegrown Josh Torquato going a full 90 and a couple of solid penalty shouts that the referee for some reason decided to pretend like he didn’t comprehend, the result mostly falls on Quill’s shoulders. He started a heavily rotated squad that just couldn’t get going. Vancouver were lethal in front of goal and put on the kind of master class that only revealed how some of FC Dallas’ aging center backs are in the twilight of their careers.

Despite the dismal showing, the game could have been a little bit closer. Logan Farrington could have scored. I don’t know why he is grasping at chances a bit. Josh Torquato could have settled a delicious cross and slotted home an easy goal, but he skied it off frame. In short, the blistering defeat stinks, but the scoreline was harsh.

More puzzling was Eric Quill choosing to bring on first team starters with the game already out of reach, but I guess he had a plan.

Still, 3 points from two away games is something most managers would take if given the opportunity.

The away stretch that FC Dallas is on though is wearing on the team. Over and over again, foreign players underestimate how big North America is and how road trips take on an added difficulty level in Major League Soccer. For FC Dallas, for instance, a road trip down to Houston is like 8 hours alone, and you have yet to leave the state. Travel up to Real Salt Lake then Vancouver? That is a lot of time on buses, in airport terminals, on a plane, and finally in hotels that, despite their accommodations, are not home.

We’ll have to watch to see if any players picked up a nagging injury or two after these matches, but so far, it doesn’t look like anything too serious as the team returns home and gets at least an opportunity to train in Frisco for a change. And do their laundry.

North Texas SC also had a double game week, both matches at the newly minted Mansfield Stadium. I acknowledged on the podcast this week that the young team is running out of time to put together a run to get into the playoffs. Their inconsistent play has hobbled them, going from a confident win one week to a disastrous defeat. They needed 6 points at home.

But at this stage of the season in MLS Next Pro, every team they face are trying for that late push too.

The good news is that North Texas came away with 4 points, first via a scoreless draw and penalty shootout win against Austin FC 2 (who look good) and a 1-1 tie and shootout win with Minnesota United FC 2. While two outright wins would have been better, four points from the two games keeps them in the mix. They are, as of the moment, in 9th place at 33 points, neck and neck with two other squads.

These are gritty results that show something positive is happening with this team, even if the play on the field doesn’t quite click.

The road ahead doesn’t get any easier, so this team just needs to pick up points anyway they can until they get hot or figure out a formation that works.

We keep hoping that this team puts it all together. There is simply too much talent on the pitch, from Edouard Nys to Ricky Louis, not to at least make an appearance in the postseason, but it isn’t clear what the missing piece is. They have the attackers. They have some defensive and midfield skill. Either head coach John Gall must discern the right levers to pull or this is just a streaky group of players.

They will be on the road next to take on St Louis City 2 on Friday, who will no doubt be wanting revenge after their last matchup.

All in all, this week shouldn’t have us too concerned. Both teams are playing good teams and maintaining contention down the stretch. Both will welcome a bit of a break this week to rest weary bodies and get ready for key matches this weekend.

FYI - It’s high school football season, so I am pitching in to do some coverage of my son’s team. If you see the X feed light up with scores and updates for Northwood Football, that’s why. My work schedule has also limited some of my planned coverage of both FC Dallas and North Texas SC this year. It’s unfortunate, but that’s life. Thanks for your patience with the blog and podcast!

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Afterburn Soccer - August 17, 2026

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 15:37:24 GMT

Thanks for your continued listening and support.

Nathan and Jose were joined by the man himself, Colin Coovert, who you might have spotted behind goal down in Austin as Petar Musa and FC Dallas grabbed a solid three points on the road, a match with Copa Tejas implications.

With the Leagues Cup behind them, we continue to be amazed at the potential of this team — and how they have yet to put it all together. What will the upcoming matches mean? How can the team get better? Who needs to step up?

Let us know if you love the show by liking, sharing, and commenting!

Afterburn Soccer - August 17, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 15:37:00 GMT

3rd Degree the Podcast #370

3rd_Degree — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:35:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, your host with the most, Peter Welpton, is back alongside Buzz Carrick and Dennis McGowan to talk all things DFW pro soccer.

FC Dallas kicks us off with the epic game down in Toluca and the oddly dominant midfield win in Austin. Turns out Santi Moreano has been playing hurt, and he put in maybe his best showing of the year this past weekend. Ramiro, on the other hand, ouch. Now the team faces RSL without Oz - at least Nolan Norris is back - before heading to Vancouver this weekend.

Dallas Trinity is up next with their home opener. A good performance with an unfortunate 1-1 result. The Golden Girls go again this weekend. Hopefully we get to see those sweet away kits soon.

Lastly, North Texas SC got wrecked, and your hosts think there's a real problem with how that side is being run. Maybe am understandable one, but a problem nonetheless.

Music by Pappy Check!

Live at 7 PM CST: FC Dallas Dominates Austin FC

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:59:31 GMT

Welcome to another edition of the Afterburn Soccer Show.

Tonight, we get to celebrate a big and dominant win over Austin FC. Yeah, the score sheet looked closer than it really was. Petar Musa got his league leading 14th goal of the season. The defense made up for Nolan Norris’ absence. It’s a big boost after dropping out of Leagues Cup action against Toluca midweek.

A few thoughts we may hit:

Is it a good sign that the team put the Toluca loss quickly behind them?
Petar Musa won’t stop scoring. What is his ceiling?
Who is exciting you on this roster right now?
Who has you worried?

North Texas SC dropped a bitter result to Timbers 2 at home, as this young side still struggles to put it all together.

And we close out with hopefully a potential transfer rumor, even if it is just a vague wisp of smoke.

As always, we take your comments and questions live. We want to see how you feel.

See you live on YouTube at 7 PM CST.

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FC Dallas Get Crucial Rivalry Win Over Austin FC

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 03:28:31 GMT

They should both be FC Dallas fans. Credit the FC Dallas social media team!

After the excitement of the midweek action against Toluca, a match that revealed the clear difference between one of the best Liga MX teams and our own Frisco boys, FC Dallas needed a rebound. Rudderless Austin FC, still looking like a team that needs some sort of direction, may have been the perfect opponents. The Verde have struggled at home, and FC Dallas, meanwhile, have thrived on the road.

In front of lots of empty seats but also a curious (and bored) Shane Gillis and Matthew McConaughey, FC Dallas found the bounce back, first off of a Lalas Abubakar goal in only his third start of the year and then by a stunning Petar Musa strike, his 14th of the year. The game wasn’t without its bits of drama, especially with Bernard Kamungo missing a practical sitter early in the first half and an equalizer from Austin FC that put the result into doubt for a bit. But ultimately and truly, FC Dallas dominated this one.

Of course, stat-wise, you could argue that shouldn’t be the case.

Austin had 63% of the possession of the ball. FC Dallas just 37%.

Austin FC though had 9 shots, 3 of which were on target; FC Dallas racked up 15 shots, 9 of which were on target.

Sometimes, as is the Eric Quill way, it’s about the opportunities you take, the moments that matter. Who cares if you back pass your way around the pitch for minutes and minutes? Are you creating chances? Are you being brave?

The only downside to this victory is that Osaze Urhoghide picked up a yellow which will have him miss the next match. Nolan Norris did not feature because of yellow card accumulation, so it will be interesting to see how he can make up for Osaze’s absence in the next game.

FCD fans can sigh a little bit. Yes, we loved this team’s performance in the Leagues Cup, even if they couldn’t punch their ticket to the next round. Their road performances are giving us hope for a potential playoff run. Musa is still doing Musa things, and there may be another signing on the way to bolster that late season push.

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That’s FC Dallas’ lead scout, by the way, catching a flight to somewhere to see someone???

For North Texas SC, I had hoped we would be writing about the team is building Mansfield into the toughest place to play in MLS Next Pro. Behind a 3-0 shellacking from visitors Portland Timbers 2, who also clinched a postseason spot, the home side are left with questions. There were bright spots, including the continued emergence of Daniel Baran, but this young team is… young. They lack consistency for all of their talent, and the opportunities to turn things around and climb up the table are starting to thin.

As much as I love this young side, I’m not sure if this is their year.

A few other notes:

The MLS commentators confirmed that Santi Moreno, who seemed like a potential big boost signing, is dealing with an ongoing injury. Surgery might fix it, but because FC Dallas needs him, they are managing his minutes instead, hence the 60-70 minute substitutions.
Lalas Abubakar needed tonight’s performance to show he can still make a difference with this squad. He will be needed again this week with Osaze out.
Bernard Kamungo is exhilarating in moments and then beyond frustrating in others. While he is only 24, we acknowledge that this may be his ceiling, though he still flashes that speed which is something else.
Musa’s 14th goal has him in the golden boot lead, but please take a moment to enjoy Valiente’s beautiful footwork, ball control, and movement to setup the assist.

We will be going live tomorrow!

3rd Degree the Podcast Special Episode - Lee Nguyen (369 B)

3rd_Degree — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:33:46 GMT

On this special Bonus edition of 3rd Degree The Podcast, Dennis McGowan had an opportunity to chat with Dallas Trinity’s First Team Manager Lee Nguyen.

The conversation ranged from his experience growing up playing soccer in Dallas, going overseas to play in Europe & Asia, and his eventual return to Major League Soccer. Dennis & Lee discuss Lee’s coaching career in the NWSL and what it means for a hometown kid to come back to Dallas for his first head coaching role. Lee talks about his coaching philosophy, his tactical vision, and how the new roster is gelling, both on and off the pitch.

Music by Pappy Check!

Afterburn Soccer Show - August 10, 2026

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:22:25 GMT

Welcome back to the Afterburn Soccer Show.

Jose and Nathan jump right into the FC Dallas and North Texas SC soccer news with a strong run of play in the Leagues Cup for FCD. We also celebrate some player transfers that have been announced or are in the process. Will Dallas have space to look for more upgrades?

We close out the show with predictions for both teams.

So much good soccer on display last weekend. Enjoy it!

Afterburn Soccer Show - August 10, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:22:00 GMT

3rd Degree the Podcast #369

3rd_Degree — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:38:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, it's a quintuple win podcast!! Two wins for FC Dallas, two wins for Dallas Trinity, and one win for North Texas SC.

Your hosts - Buzz Carrick and Dennis McGowan kick it off with FC Dallas, who took two wins in Leagues Cup. Two rotated wins. Two wins on the road. The defense is playing great, the keeper is playing great, they offense has enough to get it done. The midfield... well, there is one. Now the stakes rise as it's a must-win game at Toluca in Mexico midweek, and Ramiro might be the key. Then it's a visit to Austin this weekend.

Dallas Trinity is up next with a double-win week, granted it was in scrimmages against SMU and TCU. The season kicks off this weekend, and your hosts break down the Godel Girls roster, including the expected departure of Lexi Missimo. And just what are the implications of this calendar flip?

Finally, North Texas SC got a big win on the shoulders of Calen Swann's return to the Next Pro side. Los Toritos sit in 10th with 8 games to play; 10 points out of 4th. It would take something meteoric to get in at this point, like 8 straight wins, and even that might not do it. Given the bonkers levels of injuries the FCD second team seems to have, it's a *long* shot to say the least.

Music by Pappy Check.

Afterburn Soccer Show Live 7 PM CST: Rolling Through the Leagues Cup

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 23:04:26 GMT

In just about an hour, we go live to have some fun talking FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club, Major League Soccer and Leagues Cup.

FC Dallas Dominating in Leagues Cup Play

Maybe our expectations weren’t high, but FC Dallas have exceeded them with back to back confident victories in Leagues Cup play. On Wednesday night, FC Dallas trounced Querétaro 2-0 in Mansfield and then went on the road in San Jose to beat Chivas 1-0. Huge credit to Jonathan Sirois for coming up big in goal but also for a team being a team.

What lessons do we take from this play?
Were these League Cups games just what FC Dallas needed to get back on track?
No rest for Petar Musa?

North Texas SC Bounces Back with 3-1 Home Win over Tacoma

Meanwhile, North Texas SC were licking their wounds after a drubbing on the west coast and found a solution as they took care of home business with a confident 3-1 victory at home. Slade Starnes and Daniel Baran got their first goals. Kimbrough added one late. There is so much to like from this performance for Gall and company.

This goal by Daniel Baran was something special:

Enes Sali Is Gone; Deedson on His Way Out Too?

There are scattered reports that Deedson’s tenure is near an end as he heads to a Ligue 2 side in France. Are we surprised? No. This was a signing that never clicked, especially as Quill had to find a way to get his best players on the field. Deedson didn’t fit.

Enes Sali has been transferred to Spain for a division two side to continue his career. While he flashed some beauty with North Texas SC, he was another signing that didn’t really take off and translate to success. Glad the team found a way to offload him.

Both departures should open up some roster options.

Bring your questions and reactions as we go live in just about an hour.

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