FC Dallas 3-1 Seattle Sounders: Hosts keep MLS playoff hopes alive as Jader Obrian seals victory and takes best-of-three series to third game

FC Dallas leveled the score in their best-of-three series with Seattle Sounders as goals from Paul Arriola, Jesus Ferreira and Jader Obrian kept their MLS playoff hopes alive.

After an opening 2-0 loss at Seattle on Monday, Dallas knew another mistake at Toyota Stadium would end its season.

But they got off to a dream start on Saturday evening when Arriola headed in the opener after six minutes from Bernard Kamungo’s cross.

Just 12 minutes later, Kamungo was involved in Dallas’ second goal of the night when the striker was brought down in the penalty area by Seattle defender Nouhou Tolo. The hosts were awarded a penalty after a VAR review, and Ferreira converted it for his first career MLS playoff goal.

Following Dallas’ fast start, the Sounders responded early in the second half with an ill-advised return pass from Kamungo – which went from hero to nil – allowing Jordan Morris to race into the box and convert from close range.

Initially ruled offside, the goal was validated after a brief discussion between the referees, giving Morris his second goal of the first round.

The next key call did not go in the Sounders’ favour, despite Ferreira appearing to pull Raul Ruidiaz’s jersey in the penalty area with just over 15 minutes to play. Nevertheless, Seattle was not awarded a penalty after review, as the draw was not considered an obstacle to a real scoring opportunity.

Near misses from Ruidiaz and Obed Vargas nearly gave Seattle an equalizer, before Obrian sealed Dallas’ victory with a stunning strike in the 89th minute.

Just six minutes after starting the match as a substitute, the Colombian forward grabbed the ball and ran upfield before sending his effort from distance into the bottom left corner.

The result sets up a winner-take-all Match 3 in Seattle next Friday.