Wow, what a week to forget for the beautiful game in North Texas. Just in case you were lucky enough to miss it, let’s go back over a few terrible days.
Diego Pepi out until summer
FC Dallas homegrown Diego Pepi was the star attraction among Texoma FC’s preseason additions. A number nine with an MLS contract, and the brother of the best USMNT striker of the past year. El Trencito sustained an injury after Texoma’s first game in USL League One. On Wednesday, an Instagram post confirmed a surgery, which sources have described as a meniscus repair. The injury appears to not be as severe as older brother Ricardo’s own meniscus tear, but will sideline the younger Pepi until at least July.
Pepi’s absence compounds the team’s struggles, as they remain the only team in USL League One without a point on the board. Sunday’s 4-1 loss in Spokane also saw the Sherman-based side become the first team in any USL competition to reach game week seven without recording a point.
Weston McKennie linked to illegal betting ring
On Friday, reports emerged from Italy linking Little Elm’s Weston McKennie to an illegal sports betting investigation. Italian authorities are probing several Serie A players for alleged involvement in betting on illegal platforms, and McKennie’s name has reportedly surfaced in connection with the scandal. McKennie was one of 13 names stemming from the investigations into Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Fagioli. While the aforementioned were suspended for betting on soccer, McKennie, along with several other Serie A players, Leeds’ Junior Firpo, and world number 200 tennis player Matteo Gigante.
The good news for the former FC Dallas academy midfielder is that his name has not been linked to betting on soccer. Falsely purchasing expensive watches to pay off online poker debts should only cost McKennie a few hundred bucks.
Highland Park forfeits State Championship
Friday also brought heartbreak at the high school level as Highland Park was forced to forfeit its first-ever UIL boys’ state soccer championship just hours after winning it. The Scots defeated Liberty Hill 2-0 in Georgetown on Friday afternoon. Jake Rhine, son of FC Dallas legend Bobby, assisted the opening goal in Highland Park’s second-ever championship game. Hours later, Highland Park self-reported an ineligible player and forfeited their title.
Talk in local soccer circles has suggested the player in question would have been eligible less than an hour after the game ended when the school week officially concluded. However, eligibility is determined at the time of play and the early afternoon kick-off came too soon.
The injury bug hits near and far
It’s not just Dallas Trinity FC that’s dealing with the walking wounded. Garrett Melcer revealed on Saturday that Sebastian Lletget sustained a leg injury that will sideline Da Boi for eight weeks.
Sebastian Lletget added to the injury report with a muscle injury and will be out roughly 8 weeks. https://t.co/rPWnVYQ1OA
— Garrett Melcer (@GarrettMelcer) April 12, 2025
Petar Musa went down in first half stoppage time on Saturday, and could barely put weight on his left ankle. After the game FC Dallas Head Coach Eric Quill described it as a sprain, though the severity was impossible to assess at that stage. Oddly, that was the best news of the week because the way he dropped and got his boot off immediately, that was the type of reaction given to a ruptured achilles tendon.
The bug even found its way out to Albuquerque. Tomas Pondeca missed New Mexico United’s last game with a shoulder injury, but the winger is back in training.
Bad results all round
FC Dallas fell to a dull 1-0 defeat to Seattle on Saturday night. Jesus Ferreira didn’t exactly haunt his former club, but the Burn managed to pull off a second game at home with no shots on target from four attempts. That keeps Dallas tied with Houston for the third-worst home record in MLS. That said, they do boast the best away record in the West, which is just as well with three consecutive road games coming up.
Dallas Trinity fell four points off the top spot following a 3-0 loss away to Spokane Zephyr. Dallas couldn’t capitalize on several first half chances before Spokane came to life in the second half. Texoma also lost by three in the same venue a day later.
FC Dallas’ USL Championship loanees also endured a tough weekend. Carl Sainte’s Phoenix Rising threw away a two goal lead in the 87th minute. Sainte’s former teammates at North Texas SC – Collin Smith and Hope Avayevu – grabbed the goals for the hosts.
Herbert Endeley’s first start for Colorado Springs Switchbacks didn’t go to plan, falling 2-1 to Monterey Bay FC. The California side is captained by former NTSC defender Nico Gordon.
Even the youngsters
The Generation adidas Cup didn’t start so well for FCD. The U-16s lost their first two games, while the U-18s picked up their first win on Sunday to put them in a good position to qualify for the knockout rounds with winless Club Bolivar left to play.
Dallas Cup kicked off on Sunday, with two of the four groups in the U-19 Super Group anchored by Dallas teams. Dallas Texans lost 6-0 to Danish side FC Midtjylland, while FC Dallas lost 3-0 to Botofogo. On the girls’ side, one of the DKSC U-17 teams dropped a 7-1 result to the Samoan U-17 national team. That’s still a lot better than Bangladesh, whose U-19 men’s national team lost 24-0 in their opening game at MoneyGram Park.
Here’s to a far better week leading up to Easter!