Badji scores twice as FC Dallas blanks Toronto FC

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:22 am

Dominique Badji scored twice as FC Dallas defeated visiting Toronto FC 3-0 on Saturday night in an MLS match in Frisco, Texas.

Dallas (7-6-4, 25 points) improved to 2-0-1 this month after a seven-game winless streak (0-5-2). Goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez made two saves in posting his third shutout of the season.

Toronto (5-7-4, 19 points) had its winless streak extended to nine matches (0-6-3) and it dropped to 0-8-2 all-time at Dallas.

Toronto goalie Quentin Westberg kept the visitors in the match in the first half, making six saves. He finished with a career-high nine.

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Badji opened the scoring in the 41st minute. Stationed near the left post, he tipped a shot by teammate Jesus Ferreira into a wide-open net.

Dallas extended its lead in the 51st minute as Bressan scored off a corner kick from Michael Barrios, heading the ball into the net from the top right of the six-yard box. It was the first career MLS goal for the Brazilian defender, acquired in the offseason.

Badji made it 3-0 in the 58th minute on a three-on-two break, with assists from Ferreira and Paxton Pomykal. Badji, cruising down the left wing, took a pass from Ferreira, moved a couple of yards closer and put a 12-yard shot past a sprawling Westberg and just inside the right post.

Dominique Badji
Dominique Badji
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The goals were the third and fourth of the season for Badji, a 26-year-old forward from Senegal, tying him with Ferreira for the team lead.

Toronto's Alejandro Pozuela, the team's leading scorer with five goals this season, came on as a substitute at halftime but was unable to make a difference. Midfielder Nick DeLeon had both of Toronto's shots on goal.

Toronto was without Jozy Altidore (U.S.), Michael Bradley (U.S.) and Jonathan Osorio (Canada), who remain on international duty for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Dallas had a 22-6 edge in shots, including 12-2 on goal.