FRISCO, Texas - Another season has come and gone so it's time to look back at some of the top moments from 2023. We'll review the best goals, saves, celebrations and game day fits. And you, dear reader, can vote on your favorites HERE.
Let's start with the obvious: goals.
Alan Velasco vs. Sporting Kansas City | March 18
The first goal we'll look at comes via Alan Velasco. It starts at the back with Nkosi Tafari breaking lines to find Sebastian Lletget following a clever dummy from Jesús Ferreira. After some tidy work in midfield, Velasco gathers the ball and drives forward before finding Lletget again who does a no-look layoff back to Velasco for the Argentine to curl perfectly into the top corner. It's a great team goal finished off by a moment of individual brilliance from the eventual 22 Under 22 winner.
Alan Velasco vs. Philadelphia Union | September 27
The first goal involved a great team move finished off by Velasco but our second goal is all about the young Argentine. FC Dallas was trailing the Philadelphia Union 1-0 when a Pomykal Pomykal cross was cleared to the feet of Velasco. With the ball still bouncing, Velasco wound up and fired a pinpoint volley into the side netting of the far post. As the final replay shows, goalkeeper Andre Blake had little chance of saving the shot thanks to the impressive swerve Velasco generated with the outside of his foot. It's a textbook volley and another example of Velasco's individual brilliance.
Bernard Kamungo vs. Inter Miami | August 6
Bernard Kamungo was arguably FC Dallas' story of the season but it's not just because of his incredible journey. It's because of his impact and goals like the one he scored in Leagues Cup quarterfinal against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. The goal comes from a counterattack started by Velasco's inch-perfect through ball to Jesús Ferreira. Ferreira bided his time before finding Kamungo at the top of Miami's box. The former refugee pauses before dragging the ball passed his first defender, tip-toed by his second defender and slotted the ball home passed the diving goalkeeper. This goal is the highlight of Kamungo's astonishing 2023 season.
Jesús Ferreira vs. Austin FC | May 13
You can't have a best-goals list without FCD's top scorer Jesús Ferreira. He tied a club record for game-winning goals in 2023 and none were better than 89th-minute strike against in-state rivals Austin FC. The goal starts when the ball falls to Tsiki Ntsabeleng who turned before threading a perfectly weighted through ball for Ferreira to run on to. The American international needed only one touch to set himself before sliding the ball between the 'keepers legs to give FCD a late 1-0 win. It was a confident finish from Ferreira but a ton of credit has to go to Ntsabeleng for creating the chance with one of FCD's best passes of the season.
Sam Junqua vs. LAFC | July 1
The last goal we'll review comes from an unlikely source. Sam Junqua, nominally FCD's back up left back, played a variety of position to good effect during the club's summer injury crises and proved he's more than just a defender. This time, Junqua lined up at right wing to receive the ball and dribbled past two defenders before playing a one-two with Ntsabeleng to beat a third. A few more quick touches brought Junqua to the top of the LAFC's box where he unleashed a powerful left-footed strike that beat the motionless 'keeper at his near post. The goal sealed a 2-0 win over the defending champions and proved Junqua can fill in at any position in a pinch. How many left backs can look like prime Arjen Robben if given the chance? Not many.
