- Hárold Mosquera (63')
- Victor Ulloa (69')
Santiago Mosquera, Victor Ulloa help FC Dallas outlast Orlando City
Santiago Mosquera and Victor Ulloa scored goals six minutes apart midway through the second half to push FC Dallas to a 2-0 win over struggling Orlando City on Saturday in Frisco, Texas.
The match was halted for 70 minutes at the 81st-minute mark because of torrential rain, wind and lightning.
The win, which was completed in a light rain, lifted Dallas to 57 points in 31 matches and moved the Huntsmen closer to assuring themselves of at least a home match in the knockout round of the postseason.
Dallas holds a four-point lead atop the Western Conference standings over Los Angeles FC and Sporting Kansas City, both of whom have 53 points, in the conference race with three matches to play. The top two teams get first-round playoff byes.
After a scoreless first 63 minutes, Mosquera tallied by steadying a crossing pass from Michael Barrios and ripping a shot past Lions goalkeeper Joe Bendik. Maximiliano Urruti was granted an assist on the play for his one-touch entry pass to Barrios.
Dallas is now 16-0-4 this season when scoring first.
The Huntsmen added to their lead in the 69th minute as Ulloa nudged home an indirect free kick from Urruti from just outside the box. It was the homegrown Ulloa's first goal of the season, his first tally in MLS in more than two years and Urruti's 11th assist of the year, giving him more than double his former season-total assist output (five).
Jesse Gonzalez made five saves for Dallas to record his sixth shutout of the season and 22nd of his six-year MLS career.
Orlando City was officially eliminated from the playoffs with the loss, its eighth defeat in its past 11 outings, with three draws. The Lions have not won since July 14 at home against Toronto FC.
Orlando City's scoreless streak is now at four matches; the Lions have been outscored 7-0 over that stretch.
Dallas returns to the pitch next Saturday at D.C. United while the Lions remain on the road for a contest at New England.
Game Information
MLS Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inter Miami CF | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | +5 | 15 |
| New York Red Bulls | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | +4 | 15 |
| Philadelphia Union | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | +5 | 13 |
| Columbus Crew | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 13 |
| FC Cincinnati | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 12 |
| Atlanta United FC | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | +5 | 11 |
| Charlotte FC | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | +1 | 11 |
| CF Montréal | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | -4 | 10 |
| Toronto FC | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -4 | 10 |
| D.C. United | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | -3 | 9 |
| New York City FC | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 8 |
| Orlando City SC | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -5 | 8 |
| Nashville SC | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -5 | 7 |
| New England Revolution | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -8 | 4 |
MLS Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | +5 | 15 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | +6 | 13 |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | +2 | 13 |
| Real Salt Lake | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | +3 | 12 |
| Colorado Rapids | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 12 |
| LAFC | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | +1 | 11 |
| Minnesota United FC | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | +1 | 11 |
| St. Louis CITY SC | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | +1 | 11 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | +1 | 10 |
| Portland Timbers | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Austin FC | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | -2 | 9 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +2 | 6 |
| FC Dallas | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -4 | 5 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | -10 | 3 |
MLS News