FRISCO, TEXAS — A Petar Musa hat trick lifted FC Dallas to a 5-3 win over Minnesota United FC, in their second meeting within the past two weeks.
The attacker’s hat trick is the 12th in club history. The last time FC Dallas had a player score three goals in a game was back in 2022—by attacker Jesús Ferreira, against the Portland Timbers, on March 19.
“This is what we want from Petar: to be close to the box [and] to have that energy; he needs to be happy,” said interim head coach Peter Luccin.
Musa got things started for FCD in the 17th minute, when midfielder Paul Arriola lofted a ball up and over from midfield to Musa, who buried it far post with his right.
FCD’s second goal could have come in the 25th minute, when Ferreira slotted a ball through to Musa, but he was called offside.
Minnesota leveled it in the 32nd minute, when attacker Bongokuhle Hlongwane headed it in off a corner.
Then, Musa got his second in the 38th minute, after a ball played in by midfielder Bernard Kamungo deflected off a Minnesota defender, into the middle of the box, for Musa to redirect using the outside of his right foot.
In the 57th minute, Minnesota’s Hassani Dotson’s shot from just outside the top of the 18-yard box, rolled over goalkeeper Maarten Paes’ outstretched hands, taking an unlucky hit off the crossbar down into the frame. It was assisted by Hlongwane.
But Musa got his final goal of the night, and 8th of the season, assisted by midfielder Sebastien Lletget, in the 62nd minute.
To add on, Ferreira buried one away in the 75th minute, assisted by Logan Farrington, while Farrington then scored one of his own, assisted by Lletget, in the 90th minute of play.
But the Loons had the final say with Wil Trapp’s penalty kick in the 99th minute.
Although Minnesota was without four key players of whom are away on international duty, and are missing several players due to injuries, but Luccin says he feels the team really “deserved to win.”
Luccin said he is “thankful and grateful,” and that the team is making progress. He also said “the fans will be happy… [although they] would love to see less goals conceded.”
It will be a quick turn around for FC Dallas, who will head west to face Seattle Sounders FC this Saturday at Lumen Field.
