STWF Sports | SAN DIEGO, California | July 25, 2026 — FC Dallas saw its three-match unbeaten streak come to an end Saturday night, falling 1-0 to San Diego FC at Snapdragon Stadium.
FC Dallas Faces Tough Challenges Ahead
Dallas entered the Western Conference matchup with positive momentum, but San Diego controlled long stretches of possession and produced the decisive goal needed to secure all three points. The defeat dropped FC Dallas to 7-5-5 with 26 points, while San Diego improved to 5-7-5 and 20 points.
The hosts consistently forced Dallas to defend for extended periods, moving the ball patiently and creating pressure throughout the match. FC Dallas struggled to establish its preferred rhythm in possession and was unable to find an equalizer after falling behind.
Head coach Eric Quill acknowledged that San Diego dictated the flow of the game and expressed frustration with his team’s performance.
“They moved us around and found the goal they needed,” Quill said. “They dominated the play, and unfortunately Daniel went down early and Jonathan Sirois came in and played great for us. We let ourselves down and our fans down tonight. We’re better than this, and the guys know that. They know this wasn’t FC Dallas soccer.”
Dallas faced an early challenge when its starting goalkeeper was forced to leave the match. Sirois entered as the replacement and delivered a strong performance, keeping the visitors within striking distance despite San Diego’s advantage in possession and attacking pressure.
While Sirois helped prevent the deficit from growing, Dallas could not generate enough consistent opportunities in the final third. San Diego’s ability to maintain the ball forced FC Dallas to spend significant energy chasing the match, limiting the visitors’ effectiveness going forward.
Defender Shaq Moore credited San Diego for its composure and ability to control the tempo.
“Tough result,” Moore said. “We knew it was going to be a tough place to come in and get points. They’re a good football team. They make you chase, and they take care of the ball. So this wasn’t our night. We learned from it, and we move on to LA Galaxy.”
One of the biggest developments for Dallas was the return of forward Petar Musa to the starting lineup. Musa rejoined the club following a historic summer with Croatia, during which he became the first active FC Dallas player to score in a FIFA World Cup.
Musa found the net against England on June 17 at Dallas Stadium and made two starts for Croatia during the tournament. He returned to MLS action tied for the league lead in the Golden Boot race, giving Dallas another proven scoring threat as the club enters the next phase of its season.
Forward Anderson Julio also made his long-awaited return, appearing as a second-half substitute. Julio had not played since Feb. 28 after suffering a knee injury that kept him out for the opening half of the campaign.
Although neither return was enough to change Saturday’s result, the availability of both forwards could strengthen Dallas’ attacking options moving forward.
Quill said the team appeared fatigued but emphasized that a full week of preparation should allow the group to reset physically and mentally.
“We looked tired tonight, but now we have a week to prepare for the Galaxy,” Quill said. “We’ll get home and get ourselves turned around physically and mentally. I fully expect us to be a different version of ourselves next Saturday.”
Moore echoed that message, noting that the additional recovery time will give Dallas an opportunity to evaluate the performance and make corrections.
FC Dallas will remain in California for its next match, facing the LA Galaxy on Saturday, Aug. 1, at Dignity Health Sports Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT, with the match streaming on Apple TV.
After an uneven night in San Diego, Dallas will look to respond with greater energy, sharper possession and a more assertive attacking performance against the Galaxy.
