Maarten Paes and Nkosi Tafari stood out in the recent match for FC Dallas, earning spots in the MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Matchday. Paes, the goalkeeper, showcased his skills by keeping a clean sheet and making a total of eight saves during the game. This marked his fourth clean sheet of the season and his sixth consecutive game with five or more saves. In fact, Paes currently ranks second in saves made across the entire MLS with a total of 76 saves.
On the other hand, defender Nkosi Tafari made a significant contribution to the team by scoring his first goal of the season. His goal, which came off a header from a corner kick by Sebastian Lletget, helped extend Dallas’ lead to 2-0 in the second half. Tafari also displayed a strong defensive performance, winning 100% of his tackles and making three clearances. With this goal, Tafari has now scored a total of five goals for FC Dallas in his career.
This recognition from MLSsoccer.com marks the tenth time in 2024 that FC Dallas players have been included in the Team of the Matchday. The team’s consistent performances have not gone unnoticed, with players like Asier Illarramendi, Dante Sealy, and Patrickson Delgado also being recognized in previous weeks. The strong showing by Paes and Tafari in Matchday 20 further solidifies FC Dallas’ position as a competitive team in the league.
The Team of the Matchday for Matchday 20 also featured other standout players from various MLS teams. Players like Denis Bouanga, Yuya Kubo, and Gabriel Pec made up the forward line, while midfielders like Fabian Herbers, Luciano Acosta, and Ryan Gauld were recognized for their performances. In defense, alongside Tafari, players like Franco Escobar, Walker Zimmerman, and Mohamed Farsi were also named in the team. Maarten Paes was rightfully chosen as the goalkeeper for the Team of the Matchday.
Overall, the inclusion of Maarten Paes and Nkosi Tafari in the MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Matchday is a testament to their outstanding performances in the recent game. Their contributions were vital in securing a victory for FC Dallas and further establishing the team as a force to be reckoned with in the MLS.
