FC Dallas has struggled to win on the road.
Tuesday was no different following a 3-0 loss to Nashville — and players were visibly frustrated.
FCD designated player Franco Jara and coach Luchi Gonzalez were seen on the television broadcast having a heated exchange on the sideline after Jara was replaced in the 66th minute.
Jara, who hasn’t scored in the last six games, didn’t want to shake Gonzalez’s hand as he was coming off. Gonzalez then pulled Jara by the arm to make Jara shake his hand. After a slight struggle, Jara shook Gonzalez’s hand.
On Thursday Gonzalez said the two had apologized to one another and have moved on from the incident and didn’t take it personally. Gonzalez said Jara is a passionate and honest player.
“He’s a competitive player and he wants to be on the field,” Gonzalez said. "Right or not that was the decision. We had a moment that everyone saw — that’s nothing new in soccer and nothing new in soccer worldwide.
“It looks ugly on TV but that’s real life. Sometimes in the heat of the moment, we don’t agree, but with time things happen, you communicate and you ask forgiveness.”
With tempers flaring and frustration evident, Gonzalez said it’s important for players to keep the focus on the match ahead because with five games remaining in the regular season, FCD is fighting to stay in the hunt.
With only two home matches remaining FCD feels any road game from here on out is a must-win to better control its playoff destiny.
FCD is in sixth place in the Western Conference behind Minnesota United because of a three-goal differential. FCD is one game back from potentially hosting a playoff match at Toyota Stadium — the first since 2018, when FCD suffered a 2-1 loss to Portland on Oct. 31.
Even with the 3-0 loss on Tuesday, Gonzalez thinks the team is still playing its best soccer tactically but says it needs to put the scoring from earlier this season and the basics together to get a rhythm going.
“In the moments where soccer isn’t the going the way we want, we have to be able to create plays and score,” Gonzalez said. “We can have a perfect game anywhere in the field, but if we don’t make the plays and have that same energy and conviction in the box, it’s hard to win.”
Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer said the loss to Nashville on Tuesday night was frustrating, as were the other games FCD has lost but players have to get over them and prepare for the next match.
“There’s definitely some real frustration, and no one’s ever happy when you’re not getting the results,” Maurer said. “You have to take the positives of the certain things that have gone right in games, but at the end of the day, doesn’t matter how you play — what matters is if you win, lose or tie.”
Per the injury report on FCD’s website, Santiago Mosquera and Bryan Acosta will be out for the Real Salt Lake game. Matt Hedges, who missed the last few games, was not on the list. Gonzalez said Thursday he didn’t know if Hedges would be ready to start.
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