Fabian Castillo, by all indications, won't mind missing out on FC Dallas' bid for a first MLS Cup title — and that really is a shame.

Goal USA reported Friday that the Colombian midfielder is on the verge of a move to Turkish club Trabzonspor, with his willingness to depart midseason a key factor. Sure enough, Castillo was nowhere to be found as first-place Dallas traveled to Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday for a top-of-the-table clash with the Colorado Rapids — unbeaten since early April.

Luckily for Dallas fans, Oscar Pareja's side is not overly dependent on the influence of any one player — even one as dynamic as Castillo. That much was evident against the Rapids, as a Dallas team missing Castillo and injured striker Maximiliano Urruti still managed to largely dictate proceedings against a stingy side.

Just as it seemed the Rapids were going to grind out another 1-0 triumph to seize the Supporters' Shield lead, FCD substitute Victor Ulloa intervened. A sixth-year defensive midfielder with two career goals, the 24-year-old teed up 30 yards out and fired a screamer past Tim Howard.

Another day, another hero. That's been the mantra for a Dallas team that's constructed to contend, top to bottom.

The center back pairing of Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman may have quietly become the league's finest duo. Kellyn Acosta and Carlos Gruezo are as lively a central midfield pairing as you'll find in MLS. Ryan Hollingshead is the ultimate utility man. Playmaker Mauro Diaz pulls the strings with flair and precision. Seemingly a secondary option in this loaded attack, winger Michael Barrios leads the team with six goals.

And it seemed fitting that a substitute stepped up for Dallas to grab the road point against the Rapids. When a team can count the likes of Ulloa, Zach Loyd, Mauro Rosales and Tesho Akindele among its depth players, there's confidence that the club is built to get by in a post-Castillo world.

Castillo, of course, has been a big piece of the puzzle. The numbers — 24 goals and 18 assists since 2014 — speak for themselves. The speedy winger's ability to stretch back lines, run at defenders and command respect has opened up all sorts of space for Dallas' attackers to thrive.

And he's fun — so much fun. It seems cruel that his rabona assist to Urruti in a 3-1 win over the Chicago Fire last weekend turned out to be his farewell present. How many highlight-reel goals are walking out the door with Castillo?

To Dallas supporters, the timing is salt in the wound. At 12-6-5 this season, FCD sits atop the Supporters' Shield standings and seems well poised for an MLS Cup run. Factor in next month's U.S. Open Cup semifinal against the LA Galaxy, and this Dallas team is very much in contention for the never-claimed domestic treble. So seeing Castillo leave midseason for a second-tier European league is particularly disheartening.

The summer transfer window closes Aug. 3, so Dallas won't have much time to orchestrate any move for a direct replacement. But such a transaction isn't exactly mandatory: Sporting Kansas City sold Kei Kamara to Middlesbrough in September 2013, well beyond any opportunity to fill the roster void, and still won the MLS Cup that fall.

Either way, Dallas remains well equipped for a run at a trophy or two (or three). It's just too bad Castillo won't be along for the ride.