Emil Forsberg scored a goal and assisted on Lewis Morgan's game-winner in his home debut for the New York Red Bulls, sparking his new club to a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas on a very wet Saturday night.
The victory gives New York two wins and a draw in its first three games, its best start in four years.
The Red Bulls signed the 32-year-old attacking midfielder for the Swedish National team from its sister club, RB Leipzig to a three-year contract in December.
On a rain-drenched pitch at Red Bull Arena, FC Dallas defender Ema Twumasi was whistled for dragging down Morgan inside the penalty area. Forsberg converted the penalty kick in the 30th minute, giving FC Dallas a 1-0 advantage at intermission.
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Early in the second half, the Red Bulls found a streaking Forsberg in the middle of the field. He, in turn, threaded a pass to Morgan in the center of the penalty area. Morgan right-footed a shot into the lower left corner for the 2-0 advantage.
FC Dallas had difficulty showcasing its newest player. Dallas signed 25-year-old Croatian striker Petar Musa from Portuguese powerhouse Benfica and scored in his debut against CF Montréal.
Jesús Ferreira halved the Dallas deficit in the 59th minute on a free kick from just outside the penalty area. New York put a five-man wall in front of Ferreira, but he found a window on the right side and fired a right-footed shot into the lower left corner to make it 2-1.
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Maarten Paes made seven saves in goal for FC Dallas as the Red Bulls took 18 shots, putting half of them on goal.
Carlos Coronel faced a flurry of shots in the final minutes but needed to make just one save for New York.
FIRST STARTS OF THE YEAR
Forward Jesús Ferreira, midfielder Sebastian Lletget and defender Ema Twumasi each made their first regular season starts for FC Dallas in 2024. Additionally, midfielder Tsiki Ntsabeleng made his first appearance of the season after entering the match in the 85th minute.
EL PRIMERO PARA JESÚS
FC Dallas Homegrown Jesús Ferreira scored FC Dallas’ first goal of the night in the 59th minute of the match. Ferreira was able to convert a free kick in Dallas’ first attempt on goal in the second half. It was Ferreira’s first goal of the 2024 season.
“I am happy but disappointed at the same time,“ said Ferreira. “It's those things where I rather take the win than score a goal. Soccer is a team game, and I rather get three points any day than a goal.“
REWRITING THE SCRIPT
FC Dallas scored at Red Bull Arena for the first time since July 24, 2011. The club’s all-time record at the venue fell to 0-5-3 after tonight’s defeat.
“Unfair, because of the way we played and the personality that we showed after conceding the first goal," Head Coach Nico Estévez. ”We were a little bit unlucky with the second goal.”
THE GREAT DUTCH WALL
FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes continues to be a crucial asset to the team. This time around, Paes ended the match with seven saves.
UP NEXT
FC Dallas returns to Toyota Stadium for its Saint Patrick's Day celebration against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 PM CT.
