There was only one road win in the first 12 MLS meetings between Dallas and Minnesota (D1 L11) but both teams won on the other’s ground this season. Minnesota beat Dallas, 2-1, at Toyota Stadium on May 22 before Dallas won, 3-0, at Minnesota on September 3. Sebastian Lleget assisted on two of Dallas’ three goals in the September 3 meeting, as his seven goal contributions against the Loons (4 goals, 3 assists) are his second most against any MLS opponent (8 vs Seattle).
Perhaps no two teams will be happier that no Cascadia teams made the playoffs than Dallas and Minnesota. Two of Minnesota’s three playoff eliminations came at the hands of either Seattle or Portland while the Sounders or Timbers have eliminated FC Dallas from each of its last six playoff appearances. In fact, the last team other than Seattle or Portland to knock Dallas out of the playoffs was the Red Bulls in 2011.
FC Dallas finished the season unbeaten in its last seven home games (W5 D2), though four of the five wins came by one-goal margins. Dallas hasn’t allowed more than one goal in any of its last nine home matches, holding opponents to just seven goals at Toyota Stadium in that time.
Minnesota enters the postseason having lost four consecutive road games, being outscored 10-1, in those games. The Loons did manage six away wins this season, including four (Dallas, LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls and Nashville) against teams that qualified for the playoffs. Only conference top seeds Philadelphia and LAFC (5 each) won more road games against playoff teams.
Jesus Ferreira set a single regular season club record with 18 goals for FC Dallas this season. He was joined in double digits by Paul Arriola, who ended a 10-match goal drought by scoring his 10th goal of the year on Decision Day. Ferreira and Arriola are the first pair of American teammates to reach double digit goals in a single MLS regular season since Clint Dempsey and Will Bruin for Seattle in 2017.
Emanuel Reynoso scored 10 times and delivered 11 assists this season, one of six players to hit double digits in both categories in 2022. Including playoffs, Reynoso has recorded at least 10 assist in each of his three MLS seasons, the only player in the league to hit double figures in assists in the last three years. Reynoso’s 35 assists in that time are second behind only Carles Gill (39).
