SportSpyder - The Latest FC Dallas Podcasts

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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After Opening Win, the Leagues Cup Is Just What FC Dallas Needed

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 22:42:09 GMT

If you were to administer a truth serum to a sports coach about the importance of an upcoming game, any coach of any sport will tell you that they want to win. You don’t get into athletics if you don’t care about the final score. Sure, there are games where the travel schedule, opponent, and state of your squad humble you to the immense challenge of the coming 90 minutes (or whatever), but you want to win. The players want to win. The fans want to win.

Even in those rare instances where a team deliberately fields a rotated squad to rest key guys, there’s still a thread of hope — maybe someone will step up and make a name for themselves.

But you want to win.

There was plenty of chatter among fans before FC Dallas faced Club Querétaro on Wednesday night that the combination of schedule and opponents would be too much for a team that still looked to be emerging out of the long World Cup break. There were suggestions that FC Dallas would heavily rotate, lean on the youngsters, and just take the tournament as a series of experience-building friendlies.

And then, in front of a soon-to-be traffic-jammed crowd in Mansfield, FC Dallas went out and beat a club by all accounts who were better than them.

Did the opening lineup give us a clue as to what Eric Quill and company were thinking? Yes, notably with Anderson Julio starting as a lone striker up top and recent signing Clay Holstad stepping in for his first career FC Dallas start, Quill read the tea leaves and decided some rotation was needed. Petar Musa hadn’t quite returned to form since the World Cup. Logan Farrington has looked snake bit. Here was a chance to rest a few legs but also roll the dice a bit.

If the game resulted in a loss, the Leagues Cup could have been the perfect chance to give some youngsters minutes the rest of the way and help the squad get healthy.

If you win, well, you enjoy the ride.

And enjoy the ride they did!

Petar Musa came on for an injured Anderson Julio, who by all accounts may be done in Major League Soccer, and Kaick stepped in for Holstad after the break. FC Dallas found a second half surge of energy, with Santi Moreno scoring the go ahead goal and Valiente finally tallying his first score in an FCD kit. The result was a resounding win and gave the squad the life they needed.

Coming into the game on Wednesday, FC Dallas had only garnered 2 points in three road matches. Certainly, that isn’t a five alarm fire, but it felt like the squad had left points in Los Angeles (or Carson to be exact) and Portland. Maybe San Diego too. Despite surging up to 4th place before the World Cup break, FC Dallas now found themselves on a slow descent into 6th. That is not where they wanted to be.

Now with the big win — and still a tough slog ahead against Chivas in San Jose tonight and an away match in Toluca, FC Dallas have life. There is no reason not to take the moment, build on a confident and dominant performance at home, and see where this tournament takes them. Expect rotation, sure. Trust that Quill will want to find an opportunity to give Musa a break. But… winning cures a lot of ills.

FC Dallas can make a deep run, and they do need this opportunity to get some guys, like Valiente, who have been good but not good enough to begin to deliver. Maybe the stakes being a bit low eased some pressure off the team. Maybe the moment will allow a few others to shine, when Musa and company need it.

I’m looking for another win tonight in San Jose, 2-1, as Sam Sarver comes off the bench late to do something fun and help FC Dallas punch their ticket to the next round.

Afterburn Soccer Show - August 3, 2026

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:10:05 GMT

Special thanks to Jose Carmona for joining us on this one!

I was determined to do the show despite a busy day, and while we missed Collin’s hot takes, Jose saved Nathan as we broke down our disappointment over an away draw at the Galaxy and North Texas SC’s shellacking from Ventura County.

Still… reasons to be optimistic!

Thanks for listening and subscribing!

Update: We had some audio issues, including an echo that showed up in post-processing. I have uploaded a better version of the audio file.

Afterburn Soccer Show - August 3, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:10:00 GMT

3rd Degree the Podcast #368

3rd_Degree — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:24:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, Peter Welpton is back!!! (And there was much rejoicing!)

Your hosts, Peter Welpton and Buzz Carrick, dive into the Chicharito fan introduction event - Peter was there - and discuss the impact of the signing as the market responds.

Then it's FC Dallas time, coming off the ok perforamnce in LA. FCD added a midfielder, and the contrast to the Atletico Dallas move is fascinating. Daniel is out 2 months; does FCD still have ambition for this season? There are questions. Why is Anderson Julion playing over Sam Sarver? What's missing in the midfield? What happens if Osaze Urhoghide is sold? Then it's League Cup time with two games this week. Is FCD all in or not?

Dallas Trinity has three new players and two scrimmages before they open the season on the 15th.

North Texas SC is getting wrecked, and the playoffs are looking out of reach.

Plus, MLS has a new commissioner. Or at least elected one.

Music by Pappy Check.

LIVE SHORTLY: Afterburn Soccer Breaks Down a Disappointing Weekend?

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:45:44 GMT

Here it is - watch us online on YouTube.

We are going live shortly to talk about FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club, maybe even Major League Soccer as a whole.

FC Dallas Fade in Carson, Settle for Scoreless Draw Against the Galaxy

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 05:56:51 GMT

Credit to the hard working FC Dallas media crew.

On a perfect evening for soccer in Southern California, FC Dallas held on for a scoreless draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy behind Jonathan Sirois’ nine saves.

Away points, of course, are precious things, and the defensive performance, especially as the home side looked more dangerous as the game dragged on, is at least something to build on.

Here is the cold hard truth - the Los Angeles Galaxy are not good.

Yes, their roster is in a bit of a state of turnover, like FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium with sections cordoned off and other structures crushed into bits, all the while they try to put some decent product on the field. That product hasn’t really materialized, even if a few new faces have recently arrived and may bear some promise. But, you wouldn’t know any of this the way FC Dallas struggled in Carson.

And maybe I’m being harsh — maybe there isn’t that much that separates FC Dallas from Los Angeles Galaxy. Standing-wise, there is only 5 points that separate the two, despite rosters being in different stages of development. The Galaxy don’t have a legit striker yet, and their new Japanese international may not have much more to give. Meanwhile, FC Dallas have Petar Musa, who is just ready and waiting for a sliver of daylight to punish opponents.

Beyond Musa? FC Dallas once look again like a team of spare parts, all trying to get in rhythm after a long break. Despite second half subs expected to provide some offensive spark, Anderson Julio, Bernard Kamungo, and Santi Moreno mostly disappeared, struggling to keep the ball, and rarely picking out the right pass from the buffet of options before them. Things were better in the first half, but I always get a little frustrated when our killer striker is the one coming back deep to try to drop assists for his teammates. We’ve seen that playbook before, and it just doesn’t work.

Meanwhile, Sam Sarver, who may not be a true MLS week-in/week-out starter, stayed on the bench despite his ability to break down defenses and provide a spark of emotion, joy, anything.

I think it is fair to ask questions of FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill.

“I was proud of us defensively. I thought we transitioned as a group with honesty. They’re a dangerous team in transition, and I thought we did a good job managing those moments. We were knocking on the door and had some really good looks, but we just couldn’t find that final play inside the box. We had a lot of almost moments, and so did they,” Quill told media after the match. “It was a highly contested game. This isn’t an easy place to come and get points, so I’m proud of the point we earned. We have to keep building, though.”

Let’s start over. Look, an away point is always a solid thing, and FC Dallas face a stretch of challenging games, most of them on the road in the weeks ahead with Leagues Cup play starting. Maybe we’ll look back at this defensive performance and feel pretty good about it. Maybe the Galaxy will get hot all of a sudden. Maybe Dallas is trying to find a location for Anderson Julio to finish out his career.

Until then, it’s okay to be a bit disappointed right now… and grateful for a keeper like Jonathan Sirois who kept this team in it.

North Texas SC Return Home Empty-Handed, Losing 6-1 at Ventura County

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:28:02 GMT

Yes, that speck of light and hazy trail of smoke in the background is one of Elon Musk’s satellite launches, a regular sight out here in Southern California.

When I showed the picture to North Texas SC head coach John Gall, he was intrigued and then wondered, with a smile, if his squad had gotten distracted by the spectacle of a rocket launch instead of the actual work of winning a soccer match.

Interestingly, the image above captures a moment in the match that reveals a lot of North Texas SC’s woes at Ventura County, as they fell Friday evening 6-1. Slade Starnes is stepping off his back line to contend for a ball to a VCFC attacker. If he can make the challenge, win the ball, or just slow down the move, it’s a good play, but if the attacker wins the ball, suddenly, a 3v3 scenario opens up with Starnes out of position, phenom left winger Eric Preston ready to run into the space left by Starnes, and another attacker on the right stretching the defense. Preston would end up with two goals on the night, often just by getting behind Enzo Newman or arriving late at the back post. He wasn’t alone.

Over and over again, North Texas SC got out of position, allowed runners in behind, or just failed to win or control balls. By the 15th minute, in a shade to last weekend’s home draw, they were down by 2 goals. For every moment where it felt like they were getting their feet under them, Ventura County ruthlessly and emphatically put the game out of reach.

Heck, Nicholas Simmonds, who struggled a bit to influence the game and control the ball despite his size advantage, finally won the ball in the opponent’s box, controlled it, and slotted home a goal in the second half, his third of the season. It was a boost of confidence North Texas needed. Within 60 seconds, Ventura County answered, and you could see the body language, from coaching staff to players, slump.

I asked Gall about the defensive miscues on the night.

"It's been our Achilles' heel for most of the season. The errors we've made at times have held us back. I thought we had turned a corner, but tonight was the culmination of many issues that have affected this team throughout the season,” he told Afterburn. “Unfortunately, everything unraveled at the same time. The three first-half goals were unacceptable. We allowed players to get in behind us. Our back line wasn't together. We let the ball come inside instead of forcing it outside. Being down 3-0 at halftime makes for a difficult team talk, but we came out in the second half like we did against LAFC2, and we were much brighter. We could have given up after those goals, but we kept trying to get back into the game. Tonight was disappointing.”

The young squad will return home with lots of questions to answer and a narrowing window to get back into the playoff hunt.

In the big picture, we can acknowledge that the FC Dallas organization continue to go out and find talent to bring into this program. Lucas Martins made his debut on the night, a promising Brazilian midfielder. Da’vian Kimbrough’s family were in the stands to watch their talented attacker who only made a late cameo. With the number of balls bouncing off the goalposts, you could argue that the attack wasn’t the primary culprit. If one or two goals had gone in, maybe North Texas SC could keep their heads up high and push for more.

But in the short term, something is not working. Messages are not getting through to this group of players. Every step forward is met by a step back. Chalk it up to a very competitive league. Chalk it up youngsters who are learning how to be consistent. Heck, chalk it up to the absence of Josh Torquato or Jaedyn Contreras, both away at the CONCACAF U20 championships. Or chalk it up to a formation or tactical setup that hasn’t clicked.

On the bright side, North Texas SC will be at home in Mansfield for their next four matches. That might be the perfect motivation to turn this season around.

A few other notes:

Both Nicholas Simmonds and Ricky Louis started the year with impressive preseason showings, flirting with roles in the first team. Now, they look slightly out of their depth with North Texas SC. It may have just been a rough night. What is missing?
Add Alvaro Augusto to that question mark, as the promising defender had hinted at a larger role at times with the first team, but is now helping lead a defense that just gave up six goals. Not his night.
Lucas Martins, Gall and staff noted, is still learning how to speak English and adjust to a new culture. His role might grow as he gets more comfortable in Frisco.
Enzo Newman was a bright spot on the night, even if he did get beat on a couple of goals. He was confident on the ball and helped spearhead some promising attacks when his teammates were struggling to find space and advance the ball. Shout out to his family from nearby Temecula who came to cheer him on.

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Afterburn Soccer Show - July 27, 2026

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:18:11 GMT

Jose and I jumped on for a nice and tidy show after a not-so-great week for FC Dallas and North Texas SC.

Jose is quick to point out that just 1 point from two road matches was a little bit unlucky this time around, and he has a point. San Diego’s single goal was a shot that most often goes wide. Portland Timbers exploited a formation change and brain fart from Dallas’ defenders to level things.

And still, both teams had opportunities to get more.

Meanwhile, we covered a lot of ground with player news, including a loan from the USL-C squad Rhode Island. What can we expect from the new midfielder?

We close out the show with a preview.

Thanks for listening. Your support makes so much difference.

Afterburn Soccer Show - July 27, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:17:00 GMT

3rd Degree the Podcast #367

3rd_Degree — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:22:00 GMT

Holy cow, it's Chicharito. This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, your hosts - Buzz Carrick and Dennis McGowan - try to recover from the signing heard 'round the world: Javier Hernandez to Atletico Dallas. This is a massive, massive move.

FC Dallas had two signings of their own sandwiched around two road games. A solid performance in Portland went to waste, and then a really poor performance in San Diego leaves a tough 7 of 8 on the road. Seven of those games also come in a 24-day window. My word. Your hosts also fill you in on FCD's two new signings, Benji Flowers and Clay Holstad.

Dallas Trinity was back at it with a scrimmage against KC Current II. Dennis took the game in and spotted 5 more signings that haven't been announced. Your hosts have the scoop on who they are.

Lastly is North Texas SC. They have a load of injuries, leaving them depleted. Edu Nys was added to the All-Star Game Crossbar Challenge, so that's nice for him. They also have a signing, not that it matters.

Music by Pappy Check.

Afterburn Soccer Is Live at 7 PM CST

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 23:25:46 GMT

Welcome back friends after a tough week for FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club.

FC Dallas managed just a point on the past two road games — in a feisty 2-2 draw in Portland that felt like something was left on the table and then an overall disappointing match in San Diego that resulted in a loss.

The team will travel back out to the West Coast later this week and have a chance to rebound against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Other news though:

New keeper Daniel likely out for a few weeks. Sirois back in?
Petar Musa will compete in the MLS All-Star game this week
FC Dallas has loaned in a midfielder from USL-C, Clay Holstad, on loan. He’s a Quill guy and helps boost midfield depth

North Texas SC did not fair much better, coming back to Mansfield on a high and then coughing up two early goals. They did surge back, with Edouard Nys again showing his quality. He’ll also be participating in some MLS Next All-Star skill work, but for this team to return home and not turn their new stadium into a fortress was a disappointment.

Benji Flowers, fresh with his FC Dallas contract, started for North Texas.

Let’s get caught up together and break down all of this news for both teams at 7 PM CST.

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Road Points: FC Dallas Hold on for 2-2 Draw in Portland

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:15:10 GMT

Remember our mantra, Major League Soccer fans.

Road points are always good.

The big headline from FC Dallas’ road draw at the Portland Timbers, 2-2, was just how good the team looked despite some sloppy second half play from a back line that didn’t look quite so organized. Despite that and despite some feeling like three points were left there in the Pacific Northwest, you can still appreciate the effort and the point. It all adds up in the end.

In the first half, FC Dallas pinged the ball around like wizards. Kaick in particular had a strong game (even though he did fade a bit as the game wore on). Logan Farrington was unlucky not to get on at least one ball to punch through a breakthrough. Instead, Valiente found space in stoppage time of the first half and slid the ball over to Patrickson Delgado who took a step and slashed it home. Beautiful stuff.

But, really, FC Dallas should have had at least one other goal.

In the second half, Portland came out with extra fight and pinged the posts several times on near misses. They found a breakthrough of their own that started with some missed talks when Sam Sarver, who is no defensive wizard, couldn’t stay with the play. From my vantage point, the back line got disorganized. It happens.

But Petar Musa came on after a busy World Cup and snatched an errant pass to single-handedly put FC Dallas back on top. He is now the golden boot leader in Major League Soccer. FC Dallas, pay the man!

The lead would not hold, despite Dallas threatening a couple more times. Eric Quill’s second half subs attempted to boost some weary legs, but the second half formation never completely gelled when they didn’t have the ball. Bernard Kamungo struggled a bit to influence the game after a long injury — which is all true. Sam Sarver earned some hard fouls and wanted to blast past every Portland defender, even if that was a little bit wishful in the end.

Still, there is so much to like from this performance for the first actual action after a long layoff. Debutant Daniel in goal also found some nice saves, even if he could do little on the two given up. He will need some help.

With San Diego looming this weekend, Eric Quill is not going to apologize for fielding a team that is going to push hard for points. It’s worked. They have a lot of road games ahead, and there isn’t a ton of reason to go defense first in the matches. Roll the dice. Fight like hell. Go for the win.

Here are my questions:

What role is Bernard Kamungo going to have? Frankly, I much prefer Nolan Norris on the left. He isn’t going to burn defenders, but he is a good passer and just helps balance that side of the field.
When will Petar Musa start? Will he be ready to go on Saturday? I imagine he will.
Is Patrickson Delgado going to be a rollercoaster? Will he find consistency? His goal was beautiful and deserved, but then he disappears. Will we see Kamungo or Logan Farrington in a more advanced role in his place?

Most importantly, let’s just enjoy watching Petar Musa while we have him.

Afterburn Soccer Show - July 20, 2026

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:31:58 GMT

Despite a few slight technical issues, the Afterburn Soccer Show has reemerged after a World Cup break, ready to look ahead at some delicious FC Dallas soccer to enjoy this week. Two games, in fact!

But first, Jose, Collin, and Nathan broke down their thoughts on the World Cup. Was it a success? A memorable tournament? What did we like? What didn’t sit so well? While we agreed that Spain played masterful and annoying football, we also gave shade to Argentina for its behavior, especially in that last game. Lots of reckless fouls.

Will the tournament move to 64 teams? Will that be good?

Anyway, we spent a ton of time chatting before we got into North Texas Soccer Club’s continued moves to attract intriguing talent, in addition to the debut of the new stadium. There is so much positive with this squad right now, so many reasons why the games should be packed.

Including giving up one goal in the past three games. Do we see a surge up the standings in their future?

FC Dallas added a goalkeeper to boost their second half chances. Collin hints at rumors out of outbound players to free up some dead weight on the roster, but Jose reminds us that guys who were injured, like Kamungo and a refreshed Christian Cappis, might feel like new signings. Overall, we are positive that this team can keep the momentum going, starting with two away games this week - one at Portland and one at San Diego.

Thanks for listening and subscribing!

Afterburn Soccer Show - July 20, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:31:58 GMT

3rd Degree the Podcast #366

3rd_Degree — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:46:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, your hosts - Buzz Carrick and Dennis McGowan - go into "Thanks world, we'll take it from here" mode.

First, some Dallas Trinity takeover talk and a complete dive into the new roster pieces. The USL landscape is changing far more than just a new owner at The Trinity. Big things are afoot for the USL as well as the local Super League club and its new partner, 6 months from putting a team on the field, Atletico Dallas.

Then it's FC Dallas time. Only one big move so far: keeper Daniel. Is that it? Could there be more? FCD kicks off their insane 9-road-games-in-10 stretch that will decide the season with Portland Wednesday and San Diego Saturday. The lift ahead is massive, but Quill's team of warriors might have the guts for it. Too bad Ramiro is hurt.

Music by Pappy Check.