Eric Quill is happy with FC Dallas’ trajectory ahead of their weekend clash with the Seattle Sounders, despite dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Atlanta United.

Dallas’ hard-fought 1-1 draw against Atlanta was their second draw of the season, placing them sixth in MLS' Western Conference standings with 11 points.

Former Newcastle United forward Miguel Almiron scored a penalty in the first half, but Dallas responded with a leveller through Petar Musa on the hour mark.

The draw was a small stall in momentum for Quill’s side, who had won their last two games after suffering back-to-back losses in mid-March.

But Quill was upbeat in his response when asked what message he is sending to his players.

"When it's time to go you go," Quill said, via Big D Soccer. "I don't care, if you have that moment to go on the break and you go attack. We want to be smart. But when the moment is there, take it and steal it, you go do it.

"I instill that aggression, that belief in these guys to do that, and we almost did it [against Atlanta].

"But I like where we're trending. I like where we're going. We've got to get some more fluidity with the ball in possession."

Quill also acknowledged that it is still early days and that his side are growing into the season.

"Every team is feeling themselves out still in this first part of the season, and so you grind in nature and try to pick up as many points before you become that fluid look of yourself," he said.

"And we're becoming that. We are becoming a team, a team that believes, and that's what I appreciate the most in these guys."

Seattle, meanwhile, are coming into this match on the back of a bruising 3-0 defeat to San Diego FC, placing them 12th in the standings with just six points to their name.

Head coach Brian Schmetzer acknowledged that the start to the season has been far from ideal.

"We’ve had slow starts. I’m not concerned about that. But I did remind them of where we are and the challenges we face. We still have to make plays. The message was firm. But I have confidence in the team," he told reporters.

"We’re 11 games into the season. It’s about time for us to start going.

"The players don’t feel very good and neither do I. I don’t think any of our fans are feeling very good."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Musa recorded his 25th regular-season goal contribution on Saturday (19 goals, six assists) in his 37th match with Dallas – making him the fourth-fastest player to reach 25 regular-season goal contributions for the team and the fastest since Jeff Cunningham (34 matches) in 2009.

Seattle Sounders – Jesus Ferreira

Ferreira, a Dallas homegrown player, will return to Frisco for the first time since making the move to Seattle in the offseason.

In his eight seasons with the Texans, the forward registered 53 goals and 34 assists. He has picked up three assists in all competitions this season, though has yet to score his first goal for Seattle.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

The hosts come in with a good record, having lost just one of their last 15 home matches against the Sounders in all competitions (W9 D5) dating back to September 2014. Seattle, though, have avoided defeat in three of their last five trips to Frisco (W1 D2 L2).

Dallas’ 1-1 draw with Atlanta took them to 11 points from their first seven matches this season – their second-best-ever start after seven matches in the last six years (12 points in 2022).

The Sounders, by contrast, will be hoping to turn their poor run of form around, having gone winless in their last five matches in all competitions (D2 L3), being outscored 9-2 in those games.

They have lost four of their last five matches on the road, their lone positive result during that time being a 1-1 draw at San Jose in March.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Dallas – 36.8%

Seattle Sounders – 37.0%

Draw – 26.3%