Jesus Ferreira’s record-breaking goal in the first half and three saves by goalkeeper Maarten Paes were all FC Dallas needed to beat Inter Miami 1-0 on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
It was the first shutout since Sept. 3, 2022, for Dallas (3-2-2, 11 points) and extended Miami’s losing streak to five games. It was also the first shutout of the season for Paes, the ninth of his two-year Major League Soccer career.
Ferreira got Dallas on the board in the 27th minute with his fourth goal of the year, working in the goal mouth and waiting for a pass from Jesus Jimenez before beating Miami keeper Drake Callender with a left-footed shot to the center of the net.
The scoring play began with a pass into the zone by Geovane Jesus that was backheeled by Ferreira to Jimenez. The latter fought off the defense and drew Callender off his line before returning the ball to Ferreira for the easiest of goals and a 1-0 lead.
The 22-year-old Ferreira’s goal allowed him to become the youngest player in MLS history with 40 goals in league play.
Dallas had most of the scoring chances in the first half, producing four shots on goal to one for the home side.
That continued after halftime as Ferreira pressed for another goal in the 54th minute when his right-footed shot from the right side of the 6-yard box was saved by Callender with a lunge to the bottom right corner.
Jean Mota’s shot five minutes later from outside the box nearly tied the match, but it was saved by Paes.
Dallas’ Paul Arriola and Alan Velasco had shots blocked by Callender in the 60th and 91st minute, respectively, to allow Miami (2-5-0, six points) to stay in the match.
Miami looked as if it would have a chance to tie the game when a penalty was called in the area on Dallas’ Jose Antonio Martinez seven minutes into second-half stoppage time, but the penalty was overturned by VAR review and Dallas was able to run out the final minute of the clock.
–Field Level Media
