The FC Dallas goal drought turned into a deluge. Goals galore. More than you could want! The last 8 goal game FC Dallas took part in was in June of 2017 against Real Salt Lake; a 6-2 win at Toyota Stadium.

Minnesota United was forced by their schedule into 9 rotations from their mid-week game. But they aren't the first team to rotate heavily coming to Dallas. The last team that did, New York Red Bulls, rode out with a 3-1 win. This time it all went the FC Dallas way, well almost all of it, and Los Toros walked out 5-2 winners.

This was an important win for FC Dallas being a home game against a team above them in the standings. Now on 36 points, Dallas doesn't move up as RSL won too, but they do stay above Portland Timbers.

Let's break it down.

Lineups and Tactics

FC Dallas makes a key change. We talked on the 3rd Degree podcast this week about the need for some help for Paxton Pomykal - who is starting to get keyed and double teamed - and sure enough FC Dallas rolled out a formation tweak to make that happen. Dallas went 4-3-3 adding Jesus Ferreira as a 2nd 8 next to Pomykal. That meant Dom Badji was at the 9.

The FC Dallas starting XI against Minnesota United FC. (8-10-19) (FCD / FC Dallas)

FCD made a straight swap at halftime, Bressan coming on for Matt Hedges who had a sore back. With the Brandon Servania sub in the 75th minute, Dallas did some rotating. Servania moved into Ferreira's 8-spot, Ferreira moved to the 9, and Badji moved to left wing bringing Santiago Mosquera off.

Dallas brought on a final sub of Zdenek Ondrasek for Badji in the 79th minute.

Minnesota United, who usually play a 4-2-3-1, rotated in 9 players from their mid-week US Open Cup win and rolled out in a 4-3-3.

The Minnesota United starting XI at FC Dallas. (8-10-19) (3rd Degree / Buzz Carrick)

A big week is coming up with a game Wednesday and Saturday. Two home games which we think are going to be huge for us. We have four games in like 13 days, so we had to do something. - MNUFC Head Coach Adrian Heath

Trying to take the game, MNUFC brought on some big guns... Darwin Quintero for Miguel Ibarra in the 57th minute, Mason Toye for Angelo Rodriguez in the 68th minute, and Abu Danladi for Rasmus Schuller in the 86th minute.

Goals

There were a lot of them!

0-1 Minnesota United goal - 11th minute - A light high press puts FCD under pressure and Jesse Gonzalez muffs the outlet pass. United gets the ball into the box, Gonzalez makes a poor punch when maybe he could have caught it, and after multiple whiffs by both teams, Ethan Finlay knocks in the goal.

1-1 FC Dallas goal - 28th minute - FC Dallas plays through midfield and Michael Barrios makes a really nice lead pass to Ryan Hollingshead who buries a power shot on a tight angle. The first of several nice goals on the night.

2-1 FC Dallas goal - 32nd minute - This one is all Santiago Mosquera. Shortly after the restart, Mosquera steals the ball in the FCD end, makes a 60 plus yard run with the ball, and lofts a floating shot to the back post just under the bar and off the post. This is a really class shot and a great effort play by Mosquera. That's a tough angle and small target to hit. Yes, I think it was a shot.

2-2 Minnesota United goal - 41st minute - the FCD defense is caught up and Ethan Finlay races behind into the gap for a lead pass by Collin Martin. Jesse Gonzalez gets caught in no man's land and Finlay floats it over him for the goal.

3-2 FC Dallas goal - 45th minute - Reggie Cannon gets the lead back right before halftime. Classic team goal with good passing triggered by an initial one-two between Paxton Pomykal and Jesus Ferreira and paid off by a lay-off from Michael Barrios to Cannon. Cannon slams the ball between the keeper and the post for the goal.

3-3 Minnesota United goal - 73rd minute - Hassani Dotson ties the game for the third time with a fantastic individual moment of glory. Terrific move and a terrific shot.

4-3 FC Dallas goal - 85th minute - Another quality team goal by FC Dallas. Again Michael Barrios and Paxton Pomykal work some magic, terrific one-touch lead by Barrios. Brandon Servania makes a clinical finish for his first career MLS goal.

5-3 FC Dallas goal - 93rd minute - Brandon Servania again. Michael Barrios digs the ball out of the corner and Paxton Pomykal makes a fantastic carry along the end line before playing an inch-perfect pass to Servania.

Red Card

Mason Toye gets a straight red for spitting on Reggie Cannon. His teammates immediately call him out for it and he gets sent to the showers.

CLIP: Here is Mason Toye's spit at Reggie Cannon in last night's match between #MNUFC and #DTID. Cannon is out of frame, but teammates Darwin Quintero and Lawrence Olum waste no time in chastising the young striker.



(Source: https://t.co/vnDctRXW8i) pic.twitter.com/nBYXl1giu2 — Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter) August 11, 2019

I haven't seen it yet. If he has spat at him, then he [Mason] will get everything he deserves. Certainly, I won't condone that kind of that behavior. - MNUFC Coach Adrian Heath

Reggie Cannon gets a yellow for taking his shirt off and wiping the spit off on the ground. You can see Cannon's post-game comments here too. Officially, Cannon got his yellow for "time wasting." Letter of the law he took his shirt off, so yellow card I guess. Spirit of the law, this shouldn't be a card IMO.

Here's Reggie Cannon putting on his jersey after wiping the loogie off, followed by Kallman being ABSOLUTELY petty and telling the ref to card Reggie for it, where you can see Reggie clearly mouthing, "FOR WIPING THE SPIT OFF?!" #DALvMIN #FCDvMIN https://t.co/pnvVa0l5G3 pic.twitter.com/Rt5rEWO4AL — Kranks (@MisterKranks) August 11, 2019

El Bueno

When a team scores 5 goals there are lots of good things to talk about. But I'll try and keep it short since the 8 goals mean this post is really long already.

I really like the formation change to the single-pivot 4-3-3. I don't think it contributed to the 3 goals FCD allowed and it gave FCD an extra body in the final third. Both Paxton Pomykal and Jesus Ferreira were playing the defensive side that is necessary to make it work and both got forward and were effective. Pomykal was the same player he always is, but look how Ferreira (right of two charts) took advantage of the hole under the 9.

Passing and shot charts for Paxton Poomykal (left) and Jesus Ferreria (right) as dual-8s against Minnesota United. (8-10-19) (MLS / MLS)

Here's a Paxton Pomykal all-touch video by 3rd Degree contributor Austin Banks.

Also, Ferreira's late-game 80+ yards chase down and tackle was just delicious.

We created crosses, we got guys in the box, we got more numbers in the box in good areas and we were pretty relentless in getting the right kind of service and it got us the win tonight. - FCD coach Luchi Gonzalez

Brandon Servania really showed why I like him as an 8 much more than a 6 by getting forward behind the first line and scoring two goals. 15 minutes of play, 2 shots, 2 goals, 1 key pass on 16 touches. Congrats to the kid on his first and second career goals.

It feels amazing. As subs, we try to bring a spark, bring some energy to that team, trying to push for the win and I think we did a pretty good job at doing that and just glad to get those three points. - Brandon Servania

I had a tie Man of the Match award between Paxton Pomykal and Michael Barrios. Both of them were on fire and registered three assists. Pomykal - 1 key pass, 3 assists, 93% passing, 3 crosses. Having the extra attacking player this week due to the formation tweak - and perhaps because they've been working on it - really paid off for Barrios. Compare his chart this week to last. Barrios with 2 key passes and 3 assists on the day.

Michael Barrios' passing chart vs Minnesota United. (8-10-19) (MLS / MLS)

We've been watching in film, he's been getting good balls across there's just no one to tap it in, so just try to make that effort to get where I have to be and just tap it in. - Brandon Servania

Both Ryan Hollingshead and Santiago Mosquera were looking really good in practice this week and it carried over to the game. It's really good seeing these guys in top form as both have been a bit inconsistent at times this year. Hopefully, this form continues. Hollingshead - 3 shots, 2 on goal, 3 crosses. Mosquera - 91% passing, 5 crosses.

El Camino del Medio

Bryan Acosta seemed solid as the single 6. I was a bit worried about that coming in and I still don't love it. But he was covering the ground he needs to, didn't drift out of position that I noticed, and didn't get exposed. So positive first run out in this tactically new spot. 85% passing, 87 touches, 10 for 12 on long balls, 4 shots, 2 tackles, 2 clears,

Muy Feo

I think Jesse Gonzalez will want a do-over on this one. His poor outlet and poor punch that led to the first goal was very 2018. Then he gets caught in between on the second goal.

Jesus Ferreira, as good as he played, had 2 of his 4 shots blocked. I think he needs to pull the trigger more quickly. Don't think so much, don't try and trap and settle, just hit it with instinct. Take some personal time and convert it to finishing drills. Go indoor if you need to, get a helper, and hit 1000 shots a day all winter.

Next Game

FC Dallas heads to Planet LA to take on Zlatan and the Galaxy. Kickoff is at 9:30 pm CT on TXA21.

Change. It’s coming. Within me, within this team, within the fan base, and within this club. It’s now or never and we are ready for whatever comes our way. Love this team and happy to get my first goal of the… https://t.co/gooa26kH2x — Reggie Cannon (@ReggieCannon15) August 12, 2019