Highlight moment: Homegrown Dante Sealy scores last-minute goal to win home opener in front of 19,096 crowd
FC Dallas (1-0-0, 3 points) defeated the San Jose Earthquakes (0-1-0, 0 points) by a score of 2-1 courtesy of a 94th-minute winner from Dante Sealy.
Head coach Nico Estévez was able to test his new formation in an official game following several months of experimentation through the preseason. The 3-4-3 formation saw newcomer Logan Farrington play up top with Bernard Kamungo and Paul Arriola on either side. The back-three of Nkosi Tafari, Sebastien Ibeagha and Sam Junqua was flanked by wingbacks Herbert Endeley and Dante Sealy. In the middle, veterans Asier Illarramendi and Liam Fraser protected the backline. The new lineup resulted in 22 shots and nine on target, more than in any match during the 2023 season.
Midfielder Asier Illarramendi scored his first FC Dallas goal to equalize in the 25th minute of the match. Wingback Dante Sealy’s goal in the 4th minute of extra time in the second half helped FC Dallas earn three points to open the 2024 campaign.
FC Dallas debuted its 2024 primary home kits in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,905. The Afterburner kits were first revealed on February 15 at the club’s annual Cocktails & Cleats fundraiser at the Gallagher Club in the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Lineups for FC Dallas — Maarten Paes; Nkosi Tafari, Sebastien Ibeagha, Sam Junqua; Dante Sealy, Asier Illarramendi, Liam Fraser (Sebastian Lletget – 84’), Herbert Endeley (Ema Twumasi – 61’); Paul Arriola, Logan Farrington, Bernard Kamungo (Eugene Ansah – 84’).
