WHAT WE LEARNED: Three Takeaways From FC Dallas' 1-1 Draw with New York City FC

FRISCO - FC Dallas thought they deserved the full three points after an offensive onslaught against NYCFC at home on Sunday night, but left Toyota Stadium with just a point for the second straight match. Here’s a few notes from the 1-1 draw:

Offensive Uptick

Michael Barrios (5), Kellyn Acosta (3) and Tesho Akindele (3) led the way as the FC Dallas attack created more chances (15) against NYC than of any other match this season. Only once all year had an FCD player created three or more chances in a match coming into the match. 

Dallas might’ve only scored once, but has notched its highest shot totals of the season in each of the last two weeks (18 vs. RSL, 17 vs. NYCFC). 

Kellyn Loves the 4-4-2

Homegrown Kellyn Acosta scored his third MLS goal of the year, tying a single-season career high and bringing his total on the year across all matches to six goals. All six of Acosta’s goals have come with FC Dallas in a 4-4-2 formation where the defensive midfielder has room to push up into the attack down the middle of the field. 

Of Acosta’s two assists in 2017, one has come from the run of play in the traditional 4-2-3-1 look, while the other came from a corner kick against RSL while Dallas maintained a 4-4-2 shape. 

Don’t Mess With the Captain

Despite taking a nasty gash to the head early on that required six stitches at halftime, Matt Hedges logged one of his most complete performances of the season. The captain led all starters with a 85.19 pass completion rate and had six recoveries, five clearances, two interceptions and one block - the most combined defensive actions of any FCD player. 

Hedges was forced off the field in the 85th minute when his wound opened up again and he was replaced by Atiba Harris. It was the first time in MLS play this season that Hedges was not on the field for FC Dallas and dating back to the start of the 2015 season, it was just the fourth time that he has not completed a match he started.