Acosta Joins Elite MLS Company as FC Dallas Clinches First Home Win of the Season

In front of a sellout crowd at Toyota Stadium, FC Dallas secured its first home victory of the 2025 MLS season with a 2-1 win over a struggling Sporting Kansas City. The match wasn’t just another entry in the Western Conference standings — it marked a milestone moment for Luciano “Lucho” Acosta and a welcome spark from winger Léo Chú. Meanwhile, the pressure continues to mount for Sporting Kansas City, who remain winless through seven matches.

Acosta Reaches 75/75 Club in Style

Luciano Acosta, acquired in a blockbuster offseason move from FC Cincinnati, showed exactly why Dallas brought him in as their new creative engine. In the 37th minute, Acosta found the back of the net after a defensive miscue by Sporting’s Manu Garcia. It wasn’t just a moment of redemption following Dallas's early deficit — it was historic.

With that goal, Acosta became just the seventh player in Major League Soccer history to notch at least 75 career goals and 75 assists, an achievement that places him in truly elite company. His impact since arriving in Dallas has been undeniable, offering a much-needed combination of experience, skill, and leadership in the attacking third.

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Chú Arrives with a Bang

The celebrations didn’t stop there. Just two minutes after Acosta’s equalizer, FC Dallas took the lead thanks to winger Léo Chú, who scored his first-ever goal for the club. A perfectly timed assist from Sebastian Lletget — his first of the season — found Chú in space, and the Brazilian made no mistake, rifling home the go-ahead strike.

Chú becomes the sixth different goal scorer for Dallas this season, underscoring the depth and versatility in their attack. His instant impact also hints at the kind of squad rotation and contribution head coach Nico Estévez will need as the long MLS season unfolds.

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A Tale of Two Teams Heading in Opposite Directions

The result continued FC Dallas’s steady climb in the standings. Now with 10 points from six matches, they’ve quietly positioned themselves near the playoff line — a goal well within reach if performances like this continue.

Sporting Kansas City, on the other hand, is staring down the barrel of an early-season crisis. The team hasn't won a match in their last 13 competitive outings, a stretch dating back to September 2024. Manager Peter Vermes made four changes to the starting XI, including handing the captain’s armband to forward Daniel Salloi, who responded by scoring the game’s opening goal in the 32nd minute. It was a confident, well-taken finish after a sharp assist from Shapi Suleymanov — but it wasn’t enough.

The five-minute collapse that followed turned what looked like a hopeful start into another disappointing night for Sporting. Despite controlling 55% of possession and registering five first-half shots on target, they couldn’t find a way past Dallas keeper Maarten Paes in the second half.

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Defensive Steel and Debuts

Paes was exceptional when called upon, denying key chances from Sporting’s Rosero and Shelton in the closing stages. His presence has quietly become a cornerstone of Dallas’s stability this season.

Another subplot of the night was the late debut of midfielder Kaick, who entered the match in the 85th minute. The Brazilian becomes the 10th player to make their debut for FC Dallas this season, showing the club’s ongoing commitment to integrating new talent. Kaick’s arrival from Grêmio earlier this year has generated some buzz, and fans will be eager to see how he grows into the league.

Fan Support Remains Unshaken

Despite Toyota Stadium undergoing renovations on its east side, the club extended its sellout streak to 20 consecutive home matches, with 11,004 fans in attendance. It’s a testament to the loyalty and enthusiasm of Dallas supporters, even as the club builds toward a new era both on and off the field.

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What’s Next?

FC Dallas will aim to carry this momentum into their upcoming fixtures, with confidence riding high and key players stepping up at crucial moments.

Sporting Kansas City, meanwhile, face a must-win scenario when they host St. Louis City SC next Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park. The pressure on Vermes and his squad is intensifying with each missed opportunity. They’re creating chances — but the failure to convert and close out games continues to define their early campaign.

Final Thoughts

The match at Toyota Stadium offered a microcosm of both teams’ current trajectories. For FC Dallas, it was about capitalizing on the promise of new signings and reinforcing a winning mentality at home. For Sporting Kansas City, it was another chapter in a difficult start to 2025 — one that’s beginning to demand answers.

As Acosta adds another accolade to his storied MLS career, and Chú makes an emphatic first impression, FC Dallas is proving that it has the pieces to contend. The question now is whether they can maintain consistency — and whether Sporting Kansas City can find a way out of their deepening rut.

Additional Context:

• Luciano Acosta’s 75/75 club entry aligns him with legends like Landon Donovan, Jaime Moreno, and Diego Valeri — an elite benchmark of dual-threat production.
• Sporting’s winless run puts them dangerously close to matching some of the longest such streaks in MLS history, a sobering reality for a team once known for its competitive consistency.
• With MLS parity so prevalent, early momentum often defines playoff positioning. Dallas may have just found theirs.

For supporters, this match was more than three points — it was a sign that this could be a season worth believing in.