FRISCO, Texas - We're reviewing some of FC Dallas' best goals, saves, celebrations and game day fits from the 2023 season and putting them up to a vote to decide the best of the best. You can vote on all of them HERE.
Today, we'll be looking at the best saves, courtesy of 'keeper Maarten Paes.
Double Penalty Stop vs. Sporting Kansas City | March 18
The first save candidate we'll review takes some explaining. Essentially, Maarten Paes conceded a penalty for a foul in the box and then proceeded to save SKC's spot kick attempt not once but twice. First, Paes denied Willy Agada from 12 yards with a low save down to this left. But, after a VAR review, the kick was ordered to be retaken since Paes had stepped of his line before Agada took the shot. For the second attempt, SKC decided to switch takers and Erik Thommy stepped up. It didn't make a difference, though, as Paes made ANOTHER fantastic save (this time to his right) to help FCD earn an eventual 2-1 win. Penalties kicks are scored roughly 80% of the time so for Paes to defy the odds twice back-to-back means this is a strong contender.
Acrobatic Save vs. Austin FC | May 13
Our next candidate is much more straightforward. Austin FC had FCD pinned in their own box when a clearance fell to Adam Lundqvist who sent a side-winder volley towards the top corner of Paes' goal. Even though he saw it late, Paes was able to elevate and made a two-handed save to send the shot over the bar. The save helped Dallas keep a shutout in an eventual 1-0 road win.
Full Stretch Save vs. LA Galaxy | March 4
The previous save showed Paes' vertical saving ability while this one is an example of his elite lateral saving ability. LA Galaxy's Riqui Puig had a clean look at goal from outside the 18-yard box and unleashed a curling effort destined for the top corner. Instead, Paes flew across his goal to make a finger-tip save at full stretch. Simply put, there aren't many goalkeepers in the league who make this save.
Reflex Save vs. Necaxa | July 25
We've done the vertical save and the lateral save, now it's time for the reflex save. It came during the Group Stage of the Leagues Cup against Necaxa over the summer. Dallas had a slim 1-0 lead when Necaxa mounted a counter attack that ended with a close-range downward header towards goal. Although the ball was essentially already passed him, Paes was able to react within a split second and batted the ball away off the bounce. It's a goal-saving reaction in every sense.
Save Off the Post vs. Portland Timbers | June 11
The last save we'll look at shows Paes' positional sense. Portland's Juan Mosquera collected the ball behind FCD's backline and smashed a shot toward the near post from an acute angle. There was so much power behind the shot that there was almost time for Paes to react to make a save. Thankfully, his well-placed starting position made it so he only needed to move his left hand ever so slightly to make a close-range save.
