FC DALLAS vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

2021 MLS Regular Season

Sept. 25 - 9PM

BC Place, Vancouver, BC

TXA 21 | FCDallas.com/Stream | FCDallas.com/Radio | 1270AM

VANvDAL

HEAD-TO-HEAD

• FCD record: 6-11-9 (27 pts., 11th in West)
• VAN record: 7-8-9 (30 pts., 9th in West)
• FCD vs. VAN all-time: 10-6-7 (32 GF, 28 GA)
• FCD vs. VAN home: 3-5-4 (12 GF, 16 GA)

FERRUZZI'S FIRST GAME

• Saturday’s game in Vancouver is the team’s first under the leadership of interim head coach Marco Ferruzzi. Previously FC Dallas’ Director of Soccer Operations, Ferruzzi takes charge of an FC Dallas team that’s in 11th place but still chasing a place in the postseason with eight games remaining. Ferruzzi (who was an assistant coach for FCD for 15 years prior to moving into the front office) has played the role of interim head coach before, earning a 2-2-1 record during the 2008 season. If Ferruzzi can steer Dallas into a playoff position by season’s end, he’ll have staked his claim to earn the head coach position full time. But it all starts with an away matchup against the ninth-placed Vancouver Whitecaps.

Head Coach Marco Ferruzzi: "[Vancouver Whitecaps] have definitely got weapons, they’re dynamic going forward and they attack the ball well. They’ve got some good targets as their No. 9s, and their interior wingers—that’s something we’ve got to control. They’re obviously back in Vancouver, playing in front of their 12th man. It’s a different team than maybe five weeks ago, but at the same time we know what matchups we’ve got to give them, what places that we can feel confident in taking part of the field from them, and also imposing ourselves."

SIX POINTER

• Making the playoffs was one of the main reasons given by FC Dallas President Dan Hunt for parting ways with former head coach Luchi Gonzalez. To do that, Dallas will need to take points off the teams above them, starting with the Vancouver Whitecaps who are two places and three points of FCD in the standings. So, Saturday's game is essentially worth six points and a win would be a huge boost of confidence as Dallas embarks on a crucial run of games to end the season.

Head Coach Marco Ferruzzi: "Just by the numbers, three points for us takes away three points from a conference rival. That’s the math. But really for us to get into flow and the idea of what all these games mean, it’s not so much that it’s Vancouver, they just happen to be the ones we’re playing next."

OBRIAN HOUR

• Jáder Obrian is in the midst of his best form in an FC Dallas jersey. The Colombian has scored four goals in the last two games, bringing his season tally to eight goals—good for second-most on the team. Obrian’s recent surge also removes some of the pressure on Ricardo Pepi to score goals and opens up space in the box for the 18-year-old striker.

Head Coach Marco Ferruzzi: "When you find teams that hit their flow at the right time and players who hit their performance, readiness at the right time, a lot of things change and happen really quickly. [Obrian] is doing really well right now. Over the last couple of months, his attitude and work rate has been there and it’s now transforming into goals. So we’re going to carry that forward."