SportSpyder - The Latest FC Dallas Podcasts

Afterburn Soccer Show - May 12, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Wed, 13 May 2026 15:30:10 GMT

Afterburn Soccer Show - May 12, 2026

Wed, 13 May 2026 15:30:10 GMT

Thanks for listening and subscribing to our little FC Dallas podcast!

Nathan, Jose, and Chris look at FC Dallas’ home win over Real Salt Lake, the first marquee win of the year for the club, and we get excited about North Texas SC’ surprise victory on the road at Minnesota.

Are we feeling optimistic? Yes.

Are there still questions about both squads? Yes!

We even touch a little on salary numbers that have been released.

We close out the show with match predictions.

As usual, we keep tweaking and making adjustments to the audio, so keep looking for some improvements in the weeks to come!

Live Tonight: Afterburn Soccer Show Celebrate Some Big Wins

Tue, 12 May 2026 23:28:47 GMT

When the lights go down, we go live.

And what a show we have to talk about, as FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club both rebounded after some disappointing recent weeks with big time victories.

For FC Dallas, with their home win over Real Salt Lake, did they get the big victory that has eluded them? Can they build on this performance and do more?

For North Texas SC, their win on the road was excellent, a strong performance all around. Can they take the next step as a team?

We have a lot to get into, including match predictions and salary figures for our guys.

See you at 7 PM CST!

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3rd Degree the Podcast #362

3rd_Degree — Tue, 12 May 2026 09:27:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, it's a triple win podcast!! Your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dan Crooke, and Buzz Carrick - have three DFW wins to talk about!

First, it's FC Dallas with a second straight strong performance in the new flex 4, this time over Real Salt Lake in Frisco. FCD shut down RSL and Luna, Santi Moreno got his first goal. Kaick (who was amazing) got the second. And after some brain poo, Sam Sarver put it to bed. What a showing.

Dallas Trinity took care of business in Tampa with Sealy Strawn leading the way. Captain Wisner was the standout in midfield again. She's got one home game left in a stellar career. Catch her before she's gone!

And North Texas SC got a road win up in Minnesota. Newman and Nys got on the score sheet as the little Burn continue with the 4-4-2 as well. An Ospina red card leaves a hole in the midfield for next weekend.

Music by Pappy Check.

A Good Weekend: FC Dallas and North Texas SC Find Crucial Wins

Sun, 10 May 2026 04:21:48 GMT

CULT HERO! Huge credit to the FC Dallas media team.

What a weekend for FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club!

Just when both teams needed to answer some questions, they each found a way.

Here are our highlights and threads to follow from these fun matches.

FC Dallas 3 - Real Salt Lake 1

Home form for FC Dallas has been a vexing issue in 2026, just as it was in 2025. Dallas has either struggled to generate the kind of offense needed to break through some very good teams or dropped points despite solid enough performances. After another away win, the Burn knew they needed to shift the narrative in Frisco.

On Saturday night, behind goals from Santiago Moreno, Kaick, and Sam Sarver, the narrative did shift.

FC Dallas got the big win at home over a MLS Western Conference opponent that they needed.

What a nice statement it was!

I’ll say it plainly: FC Dallas have not beaten anyone of note so far in 2026. Yes, FC Dallas has had some solid wins. They are playing really well overall. Though it has taken some time and formation adjustments to find the right mix of personnel, the defense and offense are in good shape. Facing quality opponents though, they have dropped points all over the place. That Nashville draw early in the season particularly hits, as it was a chance to hang their hats on a marquee win against a Sam Surridge-less team. Whether it was bad luck or a lack of quality, I don’t think anyone would suggest this team was actually flirting with hardware.

On Saturday night, Dallas did show the ability to get it done, even if it wasn’t always pretty. Real Salt Lake are an excellent offensive team led by Diego Luna. Expect them in the playoffs.

But this is a game that FC Dallas should win.

For the first half, Dallas came out with the right intensity, the right grit, the right lethality in the run of play to have fans feeling confident. Really, Shaq Moore, Osaze Urhoghide, and Nolan Norris, supporting Michael Collodi in goal, played a complete half. Real Salt Lake had a lot of possession, but every time they looked to create something dangerous, Dallas’ defense held strong.

In the second half, we witnessed an FC Dallas team that was content to hold on for the win. Maybe a little passive? A little disconnected? Did they take their foot of the gas just a bit? Real Salt Lake had nothing to lose, so as the game wore on and the possession stats sky-rocketed, the visitors kept probing for a way back into the match.

Eventually it came, as a scintillating run by Shaq Moore led to a catastrophic turnover. RSL sprang on the break. Diego Luna, with Dallas on their heels, took the space he needed to lace a great goal to get his side back in the mix.

I told my son, watching the game with me, that I could sense an equalizer on the way for Real Salt Lake. It’s not that I wanted that to happen, but we have seen it happen way too often this season. Substitutes came on with a little less intensity. The quality on the ball lacked. Dallas could not possess and relieve the pressure, not that they may have wanted.

And then, well, Sam Sarver did Sam Sarver things. Receiving the ball on the counter as RSL pushed for an equalizer on a corner kick, Sarver did what he did last year for North Texas SC time and time again, using his speed and skill to outpace the defenders and slot the ball into the back of the net. The joyous Sarver, with his second goal in as many games, whipped off his jersey and climbed into the crowd, arms aloft.

Was a new tradition just born?

The win was a delight for the crowd and a huge lift to this team who has struggled to finish things out. They did tonight. They can keep working on correcting the mistakes, but they silenced that little voice of doubt for a moment… at least until the Vancouver Whitecaps roll into town on Wednesday night.

“My thoughts on the game were that we started really bright. We were on the front foot, organized behind the ball and scored two great goals. We knew in the second half they were going to push numbers forward and become aggressive trying to find a goal, which they eventually did late. Sam’s goal to restore the two-goal lead was outstanding. It was an incredible individual play and showed the qualities he has. He’s incredibly fast, and to bring that ball down and go coast to coast the way he did was special,” head coach Eric Quill said after the match. “Overall, I thought we were excellent defensively. The guys were blocking shots and working together collectively. We really didn’t give up much. Salt Lake has a dynamic attack and they’re very well coached, so if you’re not compact and working together, they can score a lot of goals. I thought our guys did a beautiful job with the details defensively and staying compact throughout the match. And obviously, getting three points in front of our fans was huge for us with a massive week ahead.”

What threads will we be watching in the coming weeks?

If you want to be concerned, FC Dallas has got to find a way to hold the ball and kill the game. It may not be the way Quill wants the squad to play, but there has to be an alternative to defending for their lives. It just invites disaster to allow teams to work themselves into dangerous situations over and over again, even as confident as we are about this defense.

Sam Sarver too remains a delight and has quickly played himself into contention to be a force on this team. I want to see him more — I want to see him get a start again soon, just to enjoy the unpredictability that he brings. His best role is off the bench, but why not let him grow in the limelight?

Santi Moreno got his first FC Dallas goal of the season, and it was a splendid goal at that. A commenter in the super secret FCD chat asked, “When was the last time this team scored from outside the 18?” I am excited to see his confidence grow along with his fitness.

Kaick got a goal after being unfairly denied a couple of weeks back, and we say congrats on the baby! With rumors that Chelsea and Real Betis are scouting the young midfielder, what a moment for him to shine. Will this increase interest?

North Texas SC 2 - Minnesota United FC 0

Yes, we’ve been disappointed by the young North Texas SC, a heavily transformed roster but one with talent. Edouard Nys and Natty James can score. There are midfield and defensive pieces that bring quality. So far in 2026, though, there hasn’t been enough cohesion or quality.

After four winless, North Texas SC faced steep odds traveling into Minnesota and facing a good side. Back on the podcast, we did not hold a lot of hope. I believe in this young team, so a draw was possible if they correct mistakes and keep improving. Most of our crew thought a loss was on the cards.

But, well, North Texas SC proved us wrong with a confident, feisty performance and goals from Enzo Newman and Ricky Louis. That it took two first team guys to help this young side turn things around should be no surprise - NTSC needs quality. They need some guys who are a little older and a little more seasoned.

On Saturday, Louis and Newman, in particular, helped.

A first MLS Next Pro shutout from Nico Montoya also helped, as goalkeeping has been a big part of North Texas’ issues as of late.

The away win gets North Texas SC back on track with an opportunity to build something special.

“I’m really pleased with our effort tonight. We have gone through a little bit of a patch of not getting results, and we spent a lot of time this week in training trying to tweak things a little bit and we made it difficult for Minnesota. We knew that we were going to create some chances with the way that we inverted our fullbacks,” head coach John Gall said after the game. “Enzo's goal came a little bit from that inverted from the right hand side, and a ball in the box, and he got on the end of it. I am really happy with the performance of the team today against a really good Minnesota team to come here and get a shutout.”

What will I continue to watch for?

North Texas SC needs help — they need quality from the first team. Caleb Swann, Ricky Louis, Nicholas Simmonds, and others can provide that help and need some fitness too. Let’s keep that flow of players going while North Texas SC’s young guys gain confidence.

What did you like about the two performances this weekend?

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Afterburn Podcast - May 6, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Thu, 07 May 2026 05:08:53 GMT

Afterburn Podcast - May 6, 2026

Thu, 07 May 2026 05:08:53 GMT

It is good to be back after some technical issues. We switched to a new production machine, and the audio levels need some adjustment for sure. Sorry about that - we’ll make some corrections come next week.

On the show, Nathan, Colin, Jose, and Chris get to talking about FC Dallas’ away win against the New York Red Bulls. The 2-0 victory was cathartic, a sigh of relief for a club that had been struggling. Is this team out of the woods? Of course, not. But there are enough positive signs that we are hopeful.

Among those positive signs? Strong play from Ran Binyamin, a resurgent defense, and Musa doing Musa things.

Also, Sam Sarver got his first MLS goal. What a moment.

North Texas did not fair so well, and we get into it a bit. Chris offers insight - that this team is still figuring things out, still lacking some quality, still needing to get its identity.

We close out the show with match predictions. Are we expecting wins at home against a very good Real Salt Lake side?

Tune in and find out.

Thanks for all of your support so far this season.

LIVE: Afterburn Soccer Talks FC Dallas' Win @ New York

Tue, 05 May 2026 23:18:35 GMT

When the lights go down, we go live.

Pull up a chair, your phone screen, your tablet or other digital media device, and go live with us tonight at 7 PM CST.

We will talk:

FC Dallas’ big road victory, snapping a four game winless streak, at the Red Bulls. The 2-0 victory was most impressive just because it was confident. Dallas never looked out of control.
Petar Musa got his tenth on the year, and Sam Sarver got his first MLS goal. Aren’t we proud?
How about that defense?
North Texas SC meanwhile dropped home points again with a tough loss to Austin FC II. This is not where the team hoped to be.

We take your comments and questions over on YouTube. See you soon!

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3rd Degree the Podcast #361

3rd_Degree — Tue, 05 May 2026 09:07:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, your DFW soccer buddies... A.k.a. your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dan Crooke, and Buzz Carrick - get to celebrate an FC Dallas victory pod. What a fantastic win in New York, the first time since 2007. Great collective defense, in a back four!! Binyamin was excellent, Kiack is starting to cook, Musa was Musa, Valiente and Johansson were flexing, and everyone feels good at the moment. Although the commentator dropping racial epithets instead of Kaick's name was triggering. RSL and Diego Luna are up next.

Dallas Trinity got a point, keeping themselves in the final playoff spot. But they did it by dropping Missimo and Ubogagu, and at least Ubogagu got subbed in with time to make an impact.

North Texas SC lost again, but interestingly, they too played a back four. And Nico Montoya made his first start of the year with 6 quality saves.

Music by Pappy Check.

FC Dallas Are Back With Road Victory Over the Red Bulls

Mon, 04 May 2026 15:07:49 GMT

Huge credit to Sam Sarver and the FC Dallas media team for this photograph, one that brings all the feels.

Going into the Saturday evening match against the New York Red Bulls in Harrison, New Jersey, FC Dallas supporters and part-time journalists like myself were nervous. Our favorite MLS squad was mired in a four-game winless streak, disappointing home form, and vibes that had gone from exhilarating to downright dismal. The most recent home loss, a 1-0 deflation against Minnesota United, especially after the team talked up the importance of the result and a focus to get things right, had us wondering if the early season vibes were just a mirage.

Against Seattle, FC Dallas chose to rest a few starters, giving guys with heavy legs and nagging injuries a chance to recuperate. Over a long season, a solid coaching staff finds ways to rotate and lighten the load. Coming off of a home loss, though, the lineup resembled a white flag more than anything else. Was this a team without ideas?

To their credit, FC Dallas played respectably with that rotated side against a good Seattle Sounders team. Nolan Norris got his first MLS goal and continues to make a case that the homegrown should have been starting last year. Sam Sarver had a solid runout. We even got to see Ran Binyamin for an extended period, which no doubt set the stage for his start on Saturday.

With a long week to rest and get Petar Musa ready to go, Eric Quill also took the next logical step, switching up the formation to try to get the best players together on the field. While it didn’t look vastly different, during possession, players shifted into more of a 4-4-2 with Nolan pushing up as more of a left back. Against a young Red Bulls side that has started the year decently, led by new head coach Michael Bradley, the switch paid dividends. Despite a fairly cagey first half, FC Dallas came out of the break with more confidence and claimed the two goals, including Petar Musa’s tenth of the year.

“It was a collective effort behind the ball. We always say that when we’re organized and press out of our structure, we can win the ball in good areas and get back behind it,” Quill told media after the match. “The commitment to the game plan and the discipline to keep shifting were key. This is a great side that can move the ball and play through lines, so the awareness at the back post was important. Late in the game, I loved our block defending to close it out. It’s a collective game, and they deserved the result based on how they played.”

The biggest highlight of the night, though, had to be our boy, Sam Sarver, getting his first Major League Soccer goal, just a few months shy of winning the MLS Next Pro Golden Boot.

The goals were great and deserved, but what was most impressive about the victory was FC Dallas playing another complete game. Defensively, this performance was the best of the season so far for FC Dallas. Michael Collodi took care of business in goal. Osaze Urhoghide will live in the Red Bulls’ nightmares. Nolan Norris and Shaq Moore were splendid. The defense hardly put a foot wrong, and time and time again, ushered and or stonewalled attacks from the home side.

When Quill opted for Ibeagha as a defensive sub, yeah, I felt nervous, but I didn’t have to. The defense stayed focused in a way that we haven’t seen enough this season.

Yes, fans breathed a sigh of relief with the 2-0 win, and with Quill’s refocus on the next four games before the World Cup break (something the announcers repeated multiple times), Dallas will look to return to its steady climb up the standings.

Threads to Follow

Rin Binyamin didn’t exactly look like an inspiring signing when he was announced, but like Valiente, he’s shown some quality with his work rate. He is a solid piece for this team, and if he can build off his assist on Saturday, he may make the crowded midfield more competitive.

Nolan Norris, Osaze Urhoghide, and Shaq Moore have the potential to be the lockdown defenders this team needs for the next couple of years.

Sam Sarver is going to only increase in value if he can find his niche in Major League Soccer as an energy sub, spot starter, and guy who can help you find an extra goal.

There are no downsides to a win, but the Western Conference remains the better and more murderous side of Major League Soccer. Getting some solid wins over Eastern Conference teams is a nice boost to the confidence, but FC Dallas needs to figure out how to grind out some results against Western Conference foes in the coming weeks.

Next Show

Last week was a light week for us on the site, but we should be back live with working video and audio after some technical issues. Thank you for your patience. Look for our next podcast soon.

3rd Degree the Podcast #360

3rd_Degree — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:45:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, your hosts - Peter Welpton, Dan Crooke, and Buzz Carrick - have to deal with a bunch of losers. FC Dallas were losers (twice), North Texas SC were losers, and Dallas Trinity were losers... nope check that, sorry, Trinity tied... but in a playoff race, a tie might as well be a loss.

The struggle was real for FC Dallas vs Minnesota, why exactly was that? Then the team rotated a ton at Seattle Sounders, not a bad idea since FCD has won there once in its entire existence and that was 15 years ago. Thankfully there are couple positives from the both games, here and there. But this is what this team is. Up next are the MetroStars...opps, Red Bulls.

North Texas SC continues to struggle without the FCD pieces: Caleb Swann, Ricky Louis, and Nick Simmonds. Edu Nys is a baller though. Biggar and Starnes are holding it down in the back.

And Dallas Trinity again struggeled at Brooklyn, although at least they got a point this time in the porring rain. Three games left, it's going to be tough.

Music by Pappy Check.

A Terrible, No Good Week for FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:02:37 GMT

Being out of cell tower range most of the weekend, I had a welcome break from the woes of FC Dallas after a very disappointing midweek loss to Minnesota United.

The downside of that was the space to spew in frustration about a team that, for a stretch to start this season, has dallied with the potential to be a contender in Major League Soccer, but with these two results, preceded by disappointing home draws, has exited such talk and drawn far closer to reality. FC Dallas now looks not far from their best in 2025 - a squad with talent that can make a run with a combination of hard work, grit, and individual brilliance. Is this a team that is outright scaring anyone? No. Is this a team that deserves respect? Sure. Is this a team that has lots of work to do? Absolutely.

Let’s rewind the week a bit.

FC Dallas 0 - Minnesota United FC 1

After two disappointing home draws, FC Dallas faced their midweek home match knowing they needed points, all three points, to reverse some of the mistakes and bad luck they had been experiencing. Ahead of the match, Eric Quill and the players verbally said all of the right things. It seemed like their mentality was on the same page, but when the whistle blew, fans’ expectation turned to frustration.

It’s not that FC Dallas didn’t generate opportunities - they had 16 shots on the night, 7 of which were blocked by shot stopper Drake Callendar. They had enough possession to make things interesting. Ultimately, though, even in the final third, both Petar Musa and Logan Farrington struggled - alongside their attacking counterparts. Once Minnesota stretched FC Dallas’ defense and got their goal, their game plan was simple - frustrate the home side. And that they did.

Yes, this game was another example of the VAR crew getting it wrong, as a clear red card was not given early in the match, which would have made life much better for FC Dallas. Still, Quill and company can’t leave it to referees to get it right to grind out results, especially ones as big as this.

“We didn’t have our typical out-of-the-gates mentality or energy. We weren’t pressing from our organized shape and sat off too much, which allowed them to dictate the tempo in the first half. They got the goal they needed, so credit to them. They also blocked a lot of shots. I thought we were sloppy,” Quill told media after the game. “Usually we’re cleaner with our passing, sharper in tight spaces and quicker to switch the point of attack, but that wasn’t who we were tonight. I told the group in the locker room that you can’t give a team 45 minutes at home when you’re not yourself and not playing to the DNA we’ve shown all season. We have to be better and fix that. It was another missed opportunity at home.”

I made a point to say last Tuesday on the podcast — these lost home points significantly lower the ceiling of this team. Yes, we flirted with the idea that this team could be top five in the Western Conference, but I think that dream died this past two weeks. The rest of the season has room for improvement, so maybe this team will make me eat my words if they can find their form again.

Seattle 2 - FC Dallas 1

Whether it’s an attempt to inject life into the squad or just rest some weary legs, FC Dallas deployed a heavily rotated squad in the Pacific Northwest. I don’t mind it. With the team struggling mentally, some veterans need a break. It’s a long season, and with some promising pieces on the roster, how do you know what you have if you don’t find opportunities for them to grow in confidence?

Sam Sarver got his first start of the season, alongside rookie Nicholas Simmonds and new signing Ran Binyamin. Lalas Abubakar also cracked the starting lineup.

The Sounders quickly took control of the game through the first half with goals from Jesus Ferreira and Jordan Morris. While FC Dallas looked feisty, the two goals had fans back in Frisco pretty nervous. That was somewhat short-lived, as Nolan Norris got his first Major League Soccer goal of his career off of a corner. The homegrown player is living up to the hype and has potential to supplant Osaze Urhoghide as the best defender on the roster.

It was a big moment for him and got FC Dallas back into the game.

In fact, over the rest of the game, despite questionable subs, this rotated squad competed well and had opportunities to equalize. Michael Collodi continues to be let down by his defense but came up big to stop Jesus Ferreira on a penalty kick. There were definite positives from the performance, giving Quill some confidence to keep rotating when other veteran players are not living up to their potential.

“Obviously disappointed about the result, but I thought we played pretty well, and I think we're going to regret seeing the couple moments that led to their goals. Those moments are fixable,” Eric Quill told media after the match. “I was proud of our mentality, our resiliency. We were going for it, we never gave up. We didn't quit. We were pushing hard and came up short tonight.”

Big Picture

These two matches don’t have me panicking, but they have poked holes in my optimism for this squad and this season. One looming question for Quill is how to build the best starting XI out of this roster. Does that mean a formation shift is due? Does that mean benching some potential World Cup hopefuls over younger guys? Does that mean dropping someone with nice skill over a player who will bring the right mentality?

Nolan Norris is the story of the season, and it’s really frustrating when Quill chooses a veteran over the homegrown who has far more value and far more upside than any other defender on the roster. Yes, Petar Musa has been exhilarating in his early-season form, but with these recent results, I don’t think there is a sliver of hope that he stays past the World Cup (except if he stops scoring altogether). I’m always rooting for a guy like Sam Sarver to punch above his weight too, and while he had some excellent moments on Saturday, the wingback positions as a whole are anyone’s guess.

The team is going to have a slower week as they travel to New Jersey to face the Red Bulls in an important matchup on Saturday.

Minnesota United FC 1 - North Texas SC 0

Swinging back to the Baby Burn, North Texas Soccer Club traveled to Minnesota on Sunday and faced a good team in the Upper Midwest. MUFC 2 are very solid defensively, and they showed it as they welcomed a North Texas side that is growing in its ability to break down opponents and create highlight reel goals. The most important takeaway for me was how hard-fought this match was, and it wasn't until the 74th minute that Minnesota United broke through.

Really, North Texas held together defensively against a stout team that generated 23 shots against the visitors. Eryk Dymora continues to grow in his leadership, and the back line played one of its better games of the season despite giving up a goal and Jonah Bigger earning a late red card. The team nearly crawled back into a tie as Slade Starnes, playing high up the field, earned a penalty kick. Unfortunately, Natty James’ effort was saved.

A disappointing night for North Texas SC, but one that also shows this team is figuring it out bit by bit.

"Immediate thoughts, obviously disappointed for the group because we put a lot of work in today. We knew that we would come here and have a difficult time against a good Minnesota team. They've got some really good footballers,” head coach John Gall told media. “In the first half, I didn't think we were very responsible with the ball. In the second half, I thought we adjusted well. I also didn't feel in the second half that we were under too much pressure. I thought defensively we were fantastic. I thought Slade Starnes was a monster today, and I thought Enzo Newman did really well.”

North Texas SC will be back in action on Saturday evening at home against Austin FC II.

We are putting plans together on our next live podcast this week, so stay tuned for a date and time to go live with us.

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Afterburn Soccer Show - April 21, 2026

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:35:33 GMT

Thank you for your continued love, listeners and supporters.

In this episode, we get into some match reactions from FC Dallas’ home draw against the Galaxy. Yes, there were things we liked, but it was definitely disappointing. Two referee decisions in particular soured us. What did the refs see? Why did they not at least go to the monitor to double-check?

So far, none of us were convinced by the limited official explanations. At least one of those goals should have counted.

North Texas SC went on the road and grabbed two points. Edu Nys continues to dazzle with heroics and skill. This was a good result for this young side, who are learning as they go but finding ways to stay in the hunt.

I don’t like to ask for funds, but if you enjoy the podcast, know that donating a few bucks a month helps offset software subscription costs and enables us to create more fun content down the line.

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Afterburn Soccer Show - April 21, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:35:33 GMT

LIVE at 7 PM CST: Afterburn Soccer Rants About VAR and talks FCD and NTSC

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:34:21 GMT

Hey there, we are going live tonight, adjusting our schedule a bit due to some slight vocational issues.

Tonight’s show is going to be fun, as we break down FC Dallas drawing Galaxy at home and North Texas SC going on the road to get two massive points against the Timbers.

For FC Dallas, we can ask once again what might have been. Did FC Dallas get hosed by the referees? Why didn’t they go to VAR on both denied goals? Or is this a game where the home side needs to be better?

Get ready for a MrCoov rant.

For North Texas SC, they come from behind to grab some precious away points that have them in 4th place at the moment. Edouard Nys continues to dazzle. The penalty kick shootout was especially confident as this young team grows.

Bring your comments, questions, and hot takes.

We’ll close out with some predictions.

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3rd Degree the Podcast #359

3rd_Degree — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:55:00 GMT

This week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, Dan Crooke is back! The jovial Englishman joins Peter Welpton and Buzz Carrick to break down the latest FC Dallas... um... breakdown. It's not like Los Toros lost, but they need to be piling up wins in this first part of the season, not ties. So there's lots of FCD talk: FCD switched off, Valiente & Musa excel, Oz doing too much, bad miss on offside, Johansson injured, Cappis better... now is it time for Moreno to start against Minnesota? Plus, there's news about ticket pricing for the next three seasons, and Peter contemplates buying the front of the kit sponsorship of FCD.

Dallas Trinity out-soccered the tar out of Carolina Ascent... and lost. But goodness was it some beautiful play. Now, the Golden Girls are barely holding on to 4th and have to go to Brooklyn, where they lost 3-0 two weeks back.

North Texas SC got a shootout win on the road in Portland with a standout performance from keeper Eryk Dymora and league-leading scorer Édouard Nys.

Music by Pappy Check.

Road Points Are Always Good as North Texas SC Win PK Shootout at Portland

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:07:21 GMT

Credit to the amazing North Texas SC media team for the photo.

I always like to remind North Texas Soccer Club fans of the big picture — road points are always a good thing.

On Sunday afternoon in the Pacific Northwest, North Texas SC grabbed some big ones, taking on a defensively sound Portland Timbers 2 team that also gave minutes to some senior roster guys. Those are never a good combination of factors: being on the road, facing a mature opponent, and having to break down a tough defensive unit. But North Texas got the job done, with the Baby Burn finding that extra gear late to steal two points.

After taking the lead from an own goal, scored after Edouard Nys led Diego Garcia in on the left side, North Texas SC were confident of getting points. Sure, a harsh penalty kick was called minutes later, one that the refs should have looked at again, but Eryk Dymora, growing in leadership in recent weeks, got his hand to it to push it away from the goal. It was a huge moment, a boost to this team.

Of course, despite a flurry of incredible opportunities, including shots from Marlon Luccin and Natty James, the lead would remain 1-0 until the Timbers 2 mounted a furious second-half comeback. Their first came via a brain-fart kind of moment as the back line lost track of a Timbers striker, who received the ball and coolly equalized. A second penalty kick was given on a poor challenge by North Texas, and this time, Dymora couldn’t find a hand to it.

Suddenly, what was a 1-0 victory was shaping up to be a disappointing defeat — until Edouard Nys decided otherwise.

The phenom received the ball at the top of the box, made a slashing run, and found the skill to lash a ball with the outside of his left foot. The massive goal put Nys back into the golden boot race and grabbed a full point on the road for the young team.

North Texas SC would go on to win the penalty kick shootout, making five of five shots. Dymora would deny the Timbers on their first attempt, capping a strong performance from the goalkeeper.

There are so many fun threads to follow out of this match.

Of course, as I started, road points are always good and make up for dropped points at home, especially last weekend’s disappointment against Sporting Kansas City 2.

Edouard Nys is a real star in MLS Next Pro, and the league would be wise to match his play by promoting his story about choosing this pathway to potential first-team minutes. With FC Dallas looking more and more for attacking midfielders to complement their attacking prowess, Nys has a clear avenue to rise up the ladder and contribute at the next level if he keeps this up and improves. One note - after Nys scored the late equalizer, he was the first rushing toward the goal to grab the ball and look for another. What a spirit.

The most interesting nugget after the match was head coach John Gall acknowledging that his young side is generally facing opponents throughout this campaign that are bigger and stronger. Yes, North Texas has guys like Slade Starnes and Jonah Biggar, but the rest of the team tends to be on the smaller side. That adds extra complications, challenging them to be cleaner and more precise with their passing and control.

One mantra repeated by the coaching staff and players is about being comfortable with the uncomfortable.

“We knew that coming here in Portland was going to be a challenge. It was a really strong team. They had some first-team guys playing with them today. We knew it was going to be a challenge. We were really happy with the first half - the goal with some attacking energy and mentality,” Gall told Afterburn. “We knew Portland were the kind of team to put a lot of defenders on the back line. I kind of felt like we had enough in the first half to get a second goal. Obviously, you go in at halftime, talked about a few things to clean up. All of a sudden, we allowed their No. 9 to get free inside the box. They equalized, and it changed the game. One of the things we harped on this week was enjoying uncomfortable moments. So happy for Edu to get that goal near the end.”

Dymora concurred. “Like John said, being comfortable being uncomfortable. I feel like that was the game today. Lots of moments when we were on the back foot. I think we came up big. To get two points away from home, I think, is big.”

While we all wish North Texas SC could just be dominant and run away with things, this is a team still on the rise. They sit in 4th place, buoyed by two PK shootout wins. Yes, the remaining schedule is going to be tough, and they’ve missed Nicholas Simmonds, who made his first-team debut last weekend. Give yourself continued reason to be excited about how they compete and find a way to get results with a much more balanced attack this year.

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FC Dallas Endure Another Draw at Home Against the Resurgent Galaxy, 2-2

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:28:43 GMT

This free frame should have been brought to you by VAR. It wasn’t.

On Saturday night, FC Dallas and their fans were treated to another treat, in a sense.

For 90+ minutes, two solid soccer teams went toe to toe, generating gobs of chances, exhibiting fesity physical football, and pushing hard until the final whistle.

The frustration, however, belongs to FC Dallas, settling for a home draw for the second straight week despite holding a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half. Petar Musa did Musa things, grabbing sole control of the Major League Soccer golden boot race. His first was the kind of mistake all too many defenders have made by going half-speed against the Croatian international. You simply can’t do that if you want to limit his damage.

If the game could have been frozen there, FC Dallas would have been far happier, getting a big home win against a Los Angeles Galaxy team that hasn’t looked like a contender.

And then, well, the Galaxy took advantage of mistakes of their own and quality that still exists on their roster, especially in the form of Joseph Paintsil. His second goal, tying the game, was just class, but it also reflected an FC Dallas defense that keeps making crucial mistakes at the wrong time.

2-2.

Now, with each home draw, we can begin to wonder whether FC Dallas is a contender. Simply put, good teams win their home games. Sure, good teams can drop the occasional draw because they face an opponent who is on the upswing or experience the randomness of the bounce. For FC Dallas, while maintaining an unbeaten home record is decent, this is the fourth home draw of the season. As points on the road get more difficult to come by, those dropped points will end up weighing heavily on final positioning later in the year.

First, though, let’s acknowledge that the referees bear a heavy load for the disappointment on Saturday night. FC Dallas had two goals called back, both of which appeared obvious scores on replay. However, the VAR team did not ask the referee to take a second look. Yes, you can argue there are some extenuating circumstances for each - FC Dallas players were potentially in “compromising” or “interfering” positions on the plays. While you are welcome to make that argument, the replays aren’t conclusive that it was true in either circumstance.

On the first goal, Farrington was clearly offside, but he had stopped and was not participating in the play. Musa, meanwhile, was clearly onside as he received the ball and slotted it home.

On the second, yes, Ibeagha went to ground in the box, but the blast from Kaick didn’t even touch Urhoghide, instead ricocheting off a Galaxy defender. I’m not sure how Ibeagha interfered.

Even if true, the referee should have looked at both replays. Take the time and get it right. Use the tools at your disposal. Show fans you want to be transparent about the reasoning.

I am not one to criticize referees. Yes, they get calls right and wrong. It’s going to happen. I’ve said it before, as silly as it may sound, that if you are going to criticize referees publicly, you also need to publicly thank them for good performances. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a coach praise an officiating crew after a match in a press conference, but it would be pretty cool to start doing so, which might improve the conversation about officiating.

But regardless - the referees got this one wrong.

Just go to VAR. Why not?

Do I place the entire blame on officiating for this draw? No. FC Dallas had plenty of opportunities to find a go-ahead goal in the second half. They didn’t take their chances.

That leads me to our larger frustration with this team.

FC Dallas may have one of the most talented squads in their team history. Petar Musa is simply on another level, and if he can stay with the team until winter, which I hope he does, he could play himself into MVP conversations. Valiente is an exciting midfielder who is living up to his billing. Osaze Urhoghide delights fans with his attitude and personality.

But right now, these uneven performances are wasting this moment. I don’t know if Quill is overthinking lineups or finding it difficult to balance personalities and expectations. I don’t know if he sees something else during the week than what fans see on Saturdays, but there are players on the squad who aren’t putting in performances worthy of their positions and minutes. They need a fire lit… and soon.

Both goals came against veteran defenders who need to be better. Shaq Moore was too slow to react to Gabriel Pec finding space and getting the Galaxy back into it. Osaze and Deedson let their team down on the second. These are all guys with significant minutes under their belt. If they want to be a defense that can compete against top-tier talent, they need to be better.

Deedson, despite scoring a goal in the previous week, has not been a revelation at left wing-back. He is a question mark on this team.

Everyone knows Shaq Moore has oodles of experience, but my hunch is that Quill feels pressured to start Moore since he is also the team captain, even if his form hasn’t been necessarily great or if he even fits in the lineup.

I’m not sold on Herman Johansson. He’s not a bad player, but he is not the difference maker we had hoped.

Nolan Norris, meanwhile, was benched for this match, despite being one of the better in-form defenders right now.

While the attack has been more than good enough, the defense has not been up to par, and it’s not simply going to be about being “dogs” out there. Quill needs to find the group of starters who will get the job done, even if it means making formation tweaks to unlock their best skills, benching leaders, or giving young players time to grow into the positions they are needed in.

I’m not going to belabor this point, but last week, the team missed Valiente to start the match. It’s one of those head-scratching moments when either Quill is overthinking or underthinking things. Especially if our defense is going to be a bit porous, why not choose offense every time?

No, I’m not hitting the panic button on this team. They are going to be in the post-season hunt, and there are plenty of points to be had down the stretch. We have every reason to enjoy every game to come and expect good things. They can get a lot better too, especially as a guy like Santi Moreno gets fit and ready to contribute more.

But fans are right to feel the frustration and hope after another home draw, especially when for the first time in a few years, this team looks to be damn good.

Afterburn Soccer Show - April 13, 2026

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:46:15 GMT

Another week, another good show - despite a draw-heavy weekend for FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club.

We start the show by looking at FC Dallas’ draw versus St Louis. Was this just a poor start for FC Dallas, a blip in concentration in that first 45? Or did St Louis just outplay and out-coach our home side? Quill said after the match that he didn’t recognize his squad. We hear his audio but spend time doing our best to frame this tough result and look at the positives.

For North Texas SC, maybe they got punished for being a little over-confident after crushing Sporting Kansas City 2 the weekend before. Regardless, a late goal stunned them, but for a young team, there are lessons to be learned. We are still high on this talented team as they try to put it all together.

As usual, the show closes with match predictions.

Thanks for all of your support, and yes, shout out to all of our supporters and our amazing crew.

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Afterburn Soccer Show - April 13, 2026

Nathan J. Hill — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:45:00 GMT

3rd Degree the Podcast #358

3rd_Degree — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:14:00 GMT

Once again this week on 3rd Degree the Podcast, Dan Crooke is missing. Your hosts - Peter Welpton and Buzz Carrick - soldier on without him. Last week was a triple "great win" podcast; this week, not so much. FC Dallas pulled the chute against St Louis City with multiple poor performances and an overall lack of dawg-ness. Out of charter? Perhaps. But a bad showing, no matter how you slice it. Were there any good performances? Yes, a couple. Now, FCD gets ready for LA Galaxy with multiple questions lingering.

And Dallas Trinity was even worse, with a terrible showing on the crazy narrow field in Brooklyn. Now Trinity has to face 3rd place Carolina, with the Lexi Missimo problem still in full effect. 5 games remain, can the Golden Girls hold on to 4th place and the last playoff spot?

And North Texas SC didn't do much better, getting a home tie against the team they stopped on the road a week ago. It didn't help that FCD took 3 of NTSC's best players to cover for possible issues in the FCD squad. That happens with the reserve team player *before* the first team. Never a good idea.

Music by Pappy Check.

LIVE: Afterburn Soccer Show Starts Shortly

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:45:58 GMT

FC Dallas was supposed to beat St Lous City SC, but that first half? Eric Quill said he did not recognize this team.

Deedson’s first goal and the squad’s leader was short-lived as St Louis stunned the home side with an equalizer.

Is this our first warning sign? What went well, and what went wrong?

North Texas SC expected to trounce the visiting Sporting Kansas City 2 team but gave up a late equalizer, exposing the youth of this team.

Credit where credit is due - they won the penalty kick shootout quite confidently.

Still, Gall was frustrated but chalked this up to a learning moment for this team. Natty James, meanwhile, is hat, with 4 goals in two matches.

See you at 8 PM CST. Send in your comments and questions.

FC Dallas Settle for Tough Draw at Home Against St Louis City

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 03:57:41 GMT

When the final whistle blew on Saturday night in Frisco, FC Dallas as a whole had to feel conflicted. The fans certainly did. While a late save by Michael Collodi preserved the precious point, the full 90 minutes of the match conveyed shades of last year’s uneven efforts that put the Burn in a deep hole in 2025, a hole they eventually found a way to climb out of.

Coming off a dominant road win over DC United, FC Dallas simply did not play up to its standard against a tough St. Louis side. Their first-half intensity wasn’t quite there. St Louis City, despite being an inferior team, looked a step faster, more eager to win balls and spray the ball forward into dangerous areas. Dallas didn’t really find their footing until late in the first half with a couple of dangerous moments.

The second half showcased a stronger performance. Petar Musa, pressing high, received the ball in an advanced position, turned, and placed a perfectly weighted ball to Deedson, who slotted his first MLS goal home. But the celebration would be short-lived, as St Louis, happy to possess the ball and work it wide time and time again, found a cross that met a well-timed run by a defender for the equalizer. With subs and renewed energy, FC Dallas were a bit unlucky not to get another goal, including a penalty shout. As the home side pushed hard for a winner, they also gave the visitors a couple of strong opportunities to steal something. Collodi, Nolan Norris, and company found enough to stymy their efforts.

What do we take from this result?

FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill expressed his frustrations from the performance.

“I just spoke to the group, and I didn’t recognize us in the first 45 minutes. The team you’ve been watching had not lost its mentality in any half this season, but we did tonight. They (St. Louis) were stronger in challenges, won more aerial duels and had the better edge. Credit to them, they came in with something to prove and showed it,” Quill told media. “We’ll look at it, be honest and learn from it. We have high standards and we know what we want to be this season. Nights like this aren’t us, and that’s why it’s frustrating. The group isn’t satisfied with a point. They understand the importance of three, and I expect them to respond next week.”

On the bright side of things, this was a solidly entertaining match. Both teams were up for the game, even if FC Dallas was not as sharp as they would have liked. The physicality, the intensity, the determination - both teams showed it. I was on the edge of my seat, willing FC Dallas to find a winner.

We also learn from these performances that Nolan Norris has locked down his starting spot. This may have been one of his strongest overall performances, including a huge save to prevent St Louis from going ahead. His growth is evident, and his personality and fire are visible in his play.

Petar Musa remains a difference maker and was really unlucky not to get a chance to take the golden boot lead tonight. I think his assist was classy. The goal will be a boost to Deedson, who has not seen a ton of minutes for FC Dallas so far.

On the question mark side of things, we first fear about Ramiro’s injury. Rumors are that it may take him out of the picture for a bit, as he was stretchered off after a collision in the first half. Kaick came in as a welcome relief with his energy, which helped turn things around for FC Dallas.

The rest of the midfield has question marks. Why didn’t Quill start Valiente in this one? When will Moreno be ready to go a full 90? What is up with Christian Cappis, who was a big reason the team wasn’t sharp? The dude was such a big signing last season, but his play has dipped a bit these past couple of games. My hope is that Quill will take some chances with a more attacking midfield structure in the coming weeks.

Finally, we saw the downside of Logan Farrington. So far this season, Farrington has flirted with being a legit MLS starting striker, and then will have a game where he makes mistakes, can’t hold up the ball, and just diminishes his team’s progress. After such a great game last week, this was a disappointment. Is this just him growing as a professional? Or are we seeing him as a squad piece striker who can give you great minutes in spots?

FC Dallas will have a week to regroup before they welcome the Los Angeles Galaxy and try to secure a full three points at home.

North Texas Win a Penalty Shootout After Late Shock Goal from Sporting Kansas City 2

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 05:30:43 GMT

Photo credit to North Texas SC media team.

On a warm evening in Arlington, North Texas settled for a draw and extra point against SKC 2 after a late equalizer from the visitors spoiled an otherwise dominant performance. NTSC confidently won the penalty shootout to secure the consolation point after the final whistle. However, the team will be disappointed to waste a brace from Natty James, his 4th goal in consecutive matches.

Yes, North Texas walked away disappointed from not getting the outright win in a match that they largely controlled for the full 90 minutes, out-possessing and out-attacking. In the second half, the home side dominated, creating more opportunities and a chance that led to a penalty kick, which was unfortunately blocked. You could see the frustration clearly in the team’s body language.

To SKC 2’s credit, the away team was content to play defensively, absorb pressure, and not make it easy for North Texas’ offense, especially after equalizing late in the first half. Their last gasp goal came at the cusp of stoppage time, and it gutted North Texas. You can argue they were lucky to get a point on the road, but the result just shows how nothing will be given in MLS Next Pro this year.

There are lessons to learn from this one.

“I think it was a similar story last week. It’s a good team. They've got some really good technical players; they do a good job with the football. We scored early in the game, then I felt we had a couple of chances that we should have scored. When you allow teams to stay close in this game of football, bad things usually happen. So that was the case,” North Texas head coach John Gall said after the match. “Obviously, they had two shots on goal and scored two goals tonight. And unfortunately, we didn't do the things we needed to do in the last third of the field to put the game away. We dominated the game, dominated possession, dominated percentage, number of passes and all that stuff. But at the end of the day, football is about putting the ball in the back of the net, and we didn't do that tonight. When you drop a point, it's disappointing. But we also gained two points, so we certainly want to take some positives out of that.”

The big loss was wasting two goals from Natty James, the Trinidad and Tobago international, who has taken time to adjust to North Texas. What is key is that North Texas is employing him higher up the patch to put him in more dangerous situations. It paid off for the second week in a row.

“Just before the international break, we had a chat with Natty just before he left with Trinidad and Tobago. He’s a full international with his country, which helps his confidence, his experience and all those things,” Gall said about the striker. “He was a little bit low going into the international break, just not being able to score or get assists because he's the type of kid that, like any forward, he wants to get those statistics, he wants to get on the score sheet because he wants to help his team. Last week was a real breakout week for him. It was great to see him with a lot of confidence. And today, he showed quality in the first goal and then the ingenuity with the second goal.”

While the result didn’t go where North Texas wanted, there remain a ton of positives with this team. And really, the season is early. For a young side like this, there is room to grow and improve. We’ll be watching to see how the squad responds in the coming weeks.

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A Potent Attack Is Emerging for North Texas Soccer Club

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:48:48 GMT

Credit to the North Texas SC media team for this amazing art.

Earlier in the year, I wrote a quick primer about North Texas Soccer Club, and central to that, I highlighted some questions that face this young side in a season that brought lots of a change. For example:

Can this squad, mostly rebuilt, find a way to grind out matches and preserve wins? Can they find consistency, especially at home?

Obviously, North Texas faced a ton of questions this year, chief among them was how to get more offensive production out of the squad. Last year, when Sam Sarver wasn’t on the pitch, North Texas struggled to score goals. Their offensive weapons were just not good enough, so it wasn’t a surprise that the team went out and convinced Edouard Nys, Natty James, and Nicholas Simmonds to help right the ship.

So far, the project is working pretty well.

Has it been perfect? No. The two losses on the road against Austin FC 2 and Dynamo 2 highlighted that this is a young team who have a lot to learn. The consistency is not there yet and will take time. The game against Austin was just weird with that extreme wind, but Dynamo are as good as any team North Texas will face. The loss revealed a sizable gap between the teams.

But that is a gap that can be narrowed over the course of the season.

Last week, North Texas took care of business with a thorough 4-1 demolishing of Sporting Kansas City 2 on the road. It was a confident performance, a boost that this young team needed. We mentioned on the pod that while SKC 2 is hardly a good team, you got to pick up the easy wins when you can. Every performance like that helps this roster grow together, trust each other, and raise their ceiling.

This evening, Sporting Kansas City 2 stroll into Choctaw Stadium, and North Texas will be relishing the chance to sweep their opponents so early in the season. From two straight losses to two straight wins? It can happen.

It will happen.

Sure, North Texas must not over-estimate any opponent, including a Sporting Kansas City team that has nothing left to lose and will be smarting from their drubbing at home, but this is a game to build on the stellar performance from last week and shift it to another gear. I don’t want them to get too greedy, but you have got to win this one.

Here is what I will be watching for:

With Natty James getting a brace and Edouard Nys getting his 5th of the year, the attack is lively. We’ve seen that Nicholas Simmonds can do damage. Sam Sedeh is still young and hasn’t quite looked as dangerous — but he has time. Other contributors are knocking on the door. Despite some very good performances, there is a lot of room for this offense to click, especially with wing backs getting more active. I want to see if James can get another goal tonight, since he has been up and down so far this season.
We highlighted on the podcast that the goalkeeping situation isn’t quite there yet. It’s no reason to panic, as it took JT Harms most of the season to find his voice and claim his leadership role last year. Could Eryk Dymora be on a similar trajectory? If not, who else will Gall give an opportunity to?
Despite last week’s win and a few guys being clear week in and out starters (Nys, Swann, Contreras), there are a ton of spots on this roster that can be staked down. I think that competition is what North Texas SC needs over the course of the season, as it pushes these young players every week. That there are guys who haven’t locked down spots yet can also explain some of the inconsistency. Let’s see this crew get closer to that lock down starting XI tonight and in the coming weeks.

The match kicks off tonight at 7:30 PM CST and is free to watch over on YouTube.

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