Dominique Badji scored his third and fourth goals of the season on assists from Jesus Ferreira, and FC Dallas returned from the Gold Cup break with a thoroughly dominant 3-0 victory over shorthanded Toronto FC on Saturday evening at Toyota Stadium.
Badji's brace was first multi-goal performance since joining Dallas in a trade from Colorado last July, and helped his team extend a modest unbeaten run to three matches.
Bressan added his first-ever MLS goal on a header off Michael Barrios' corner kick. And 16-year-old Ricardo Pepi made his MLS debut only a day after finalizing his Homegrown Player signing with Dallas. He had previously appeared for FCD in U.S. Open Cup matches.
Toronto saw their winless slide stretch to eight games. The last five of those results (3 losses, 2 draws) have come against Western Conference opposition.
Goals
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: As much as Toronto needs to snap out of their rut, with Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Jonathan Osorio at the Gold Cup and Alejandro Pozuelo limited following a team-approved hiatus in Spain, Saturday was less-than-ideal timing. Dallas weren't nearly as damaged by international call-ups, and it showed — the hosts led 22-6 in total shots and 12-2 in efforts on target.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Goalkeeper Quentin Westberg did all he could for the visitors with nine saves. His two most impressive came in quick succession to deny Ferreira Dallas' second goal in the final minutes before halftime.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Jesus Ferreira. The 18-year-old didn't find the net himself, but that owed to some exceptional early saves by Westberg and also to Badji getting on the end of his potentially-goal bound assist before halftime. It was his center channel run — and correct decision to lay the ball off — that led to Badji's stylish second.
Up Next
- DAL: Wednesday, June 26 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (9 pm ET | TSN 1/3, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US)
- TOR: Wednesday, June 26 vs. Atlanta United (8 pm ET | TSN 4/5, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US)
