STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas | March 14, 2026 — A dramatic night at Toyota Stadium saw FC Dallas rally twice to secure a thrilling 3–3 draw against San Diego FC, fueled by a sensational hat trick from forward Petar Musa.
The result moved Dallas to 1-1-2 (5 points) on the young Major League Soccer season, while San Diego remained unbeaten at 3-0-1 (10 points).
In front of another sold-out crowd of 11,004 supporters — extending the club’s regular-season sellout streak to 37 consecutive matches — Musa delivered one of the most memorable individual performances in recent club history.
Musa Delivers Historic Hat Trick
Musa scored in the 41st minute, converted a penalty in the 54th, and delivered a dramatic equalizer deep into stoppage time in the 90+5 minute to complete the comeback.
The performance marked the 12th hat trick in FC Dallas history and made Musa the first player in club history to record two hat tricks with the club.
The Croatian striker now has five goals in the opening weeks of the 2026 campaign and currently leads MLS in both goals and expected goals (xG). His latest performance also pushed his career total with Dallas to 39 goals, moving him into fourth place on the club’s all-time scoring list and within reach of Kenny Cooper’s 46 goals.
“I’m very happy with the three goals today, but it was a team effort,” Musa said postgame. “The guys helped me a lot and were always looking for me in the box. We showed we never give up, especially at home.”
A Match Full of Momentum Swings
The evening began in frustrating fashion for Dallas, which fell behind 2–0 despite controlling large portions of the first half. Both San Diego goals came from penalty kicks, leaving the home side chasing the match early.
Head coach Eric Quill praised his team’s resilience after the match.
“We went down 2-0 and had a choice to make,” Quill said. “The easy thing would have been to say it wasn’t our night. But the guys didn’t do that. They were warriors. They stayed connected and kept fighting.”
Musa’s first goal just before halftime ignited the Dallas comeback and shifted momentum heading into the break.
After San Diego restored a two-goal cushion later in the match to make it 3–1, Dallas again responded. Musa converted from the penalty spot early in the second half before completing the hat trick in stoppage time to salvage a point.
Dallas even threatened to steal the victory late, pushing forward relentlessly in the final minutes.
Valiente and Norris Make Impact
Saturday’s match also featured several key lineup developments for Dallas.
Uruguayan midfielder Joaquín Valiente made his first home start for the club and delivered an energetic performance in midfield. Valiente recorded 19 passes, one key pass, and covered a team-high 10.9 kilometers before being substituted in the 77th minute.
Defender Nolan Norris, a Dallas Homegrown product, returned to the starting lineup for his season debut. His inclusion marked the fourth different starting lineup used by Dallas through the first four matches of the season.
Norris praised the team’s resilience after the dramatic draw.
“It was a crazy game with a lot of ups and downs,” Norris said. “But we stayed resilient and never gave up. Coming away with a point instead of putting our heads down is a solid result.”
Building Momentum Early in the Season
While the result extended Dallas’ winless streak to three matches, Quill emphasized the positives his team continues to show early in the campaign.
“I’m proud of where this group is after four games,” Quill said. “We’ve gone toe-to-toe with some of the top teams in this league. The mentality, the fight, and the belief are all there.”
What’s Next
FC Dallas will now shift its focus to one of the most anticipated matches of the season when it hosts Houston Dynamo FC in the first installment of the 2026 Texas Derby on Saturday, March 21 at Toyota Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT as Dallas looks to turn its attacking momentum into three points in front of its home supporters.
