Sporting falls 2-1 at FC Dallas

By Patrik Bergabo – Sporting Kansas City

Sporting Kansas City (0-5-1, 1 pt.) fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against FC Dallas (3-2-1, 10 pts.) at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night. Daniel Salloi gave Sporting the lead midway through the first half but a quickfire double from the hosts saw Dallas claim all three points.

Manager Peter Vermes made four changes to Sporting’s starting lineup from last week with Dany Rosero, Khiry Shelton, Jacob Bartlett and Salloi all entering the XI, allowing Jake Davis to move back into midfield for the first time since the 2024 U.S. Open Cup Final on Sept. 25, 2024.

Sporting opened the match on the front foot and had the first shot of the game in just the second minute as Davis found Salloi with a brilliant pass in behind before Davis caught up with play and finished the action with a strike that sailed wide from 25 yards.

Dallas threatened for the first time in the 16^th minute when a corner was recycled back into the area and star striker Petar Musa found himself alone in front of goal but his volley flew over the bar and Sporting breathed a sigh of relief.

Sporting found the breakthrough in the 32^nd minute through an excellently worked goal from Salloi. After Davis and Shapi Suleymanov combined on the right wing, the Russian winger clipped a cross to the far post where Salloi controlled on his thigh before volleying into the side-netting for his second goal of the 2025 season.

The lead did not last long as Dallas roared back with a pair of goals three minutes apart as first former MLS MVP Lucho Acosta struck inside the area to equalize in the 37^th minute before Sebastian Lletget set up Leo Chu in the 39^th minute to complete the host’s turnaround before halftime.

Sporting spurned a golden opportunity to equalize in the 56^th minute when Shelton sprung forward and saw his low cross deflected into the path of Suleymanov whose half-volley from 12 yards flew narrowly over the bar.

Dallas had a chance to extend their lead in the 61^st minute when Acosta’s through ball almost found Musa in the area but John Pulskamp came off his line quickly to block the chance before Rosero forced the rebound wide.

Sporting almost found their way back into the game on a set piece from Davis in the 70^th minute, as his in-swinging free kick was flicked on goal by Shelton and forced Maarten Paes into a decent save, beating the ball away to safety.

Another in-swinging free kick created Sporting’s next opportunity in the 81^st minute as substitute Memo Rodriguez’s whipped in delivery found Rosero at the far post but his downward header was expertly repelled by Paes. Sporting continued to probe in the closing stages but was unable to find an equalizer.

Sporting KC returns home next weekend to take on cross-state rivals St. Louis at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV as well as on the radio via Sports Radio 810 WHB. Tickets are available via SeatGeek.com.

2025 MLS Regular Season | Match 6
Toyota Stadium | Frisco, TX
Attendance: 11,004
Weather: 77 degrees and cloudy

FC Dallas 2-1 Sporting KC

Sporting Kansas City: John Pulskamp; Khiry Shelton, Jansen Miller, Dany Rosero, Logan Ndenbe; Jacob Bartlett (Memo Rodriguez 71’), Jake Davis (Zorhan Bassong 91+), Manu Garcia; Shapi Suleymanov (Erik Thommy 80’), Dejan Joveljic (William Agada 79’), Daniel Salloi (C)

Subs Not Used: Ryan Schewe, Tim Leibold, Robert Voloder, Nemanja Radoja, Stephen Afrifa

FC Dallas: Maarten Paes; Shaq Moore, Sebastien Ibeagha, Osaze Urhoghide, Nolan Norris (Marco Farfan 75’); Ramiro, Sebastian Lletget (Kaick Ferreira 75’), Patrickson Delgado (Katlego Ntsabeleng 56’), Lucho Acosta (C) (Lalas Abubakar 91+); Leo Chu (Logan Farrington 56’), Petar Musa

Subs Not Used: Michael Collodi, Bernard Kamungo, Pedrinho, Show

Scoring Summary:
SKC – Daniel Salloi 2 (Shapi Suleymanov 2) 32’
DAL – Lucho Acosta 3 (Petar Musa 3) 37’
DAL – Leo Chu 1 (Sebastian Lletget 1, Osaze Urhoghide 1) 39’

Misconduct Summary:
DAL – Shaq Moore (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 24’
SKC – Jacob Bartlett (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 25’
DAL – Eric Quill (Yellow Card; Dissent) 47+
DAL – Ramiro (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 69’

Match Statistics

Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referee: Ian McKay
Assistant Referee: Nick Balcer
Fourth Official: Calin Radosav
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert