FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill urged his side to improve after a loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps, claiming they have the ability to challenge at the top of MLS.

Dallas let a lead slip before clawing back to level terms against the now-Western Conference leaders, Vancouver, but ended up losing 3-2 at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday.

Quill's side had won back-to-back matches prior to that loss and are seventh in the table after 13 matches played.

Dallas' form has been a bit rocky this season, but Quill remains confident they should be higher up the table and is determined to find some consistency before the World Cup break.

"I felt like we had a bright start and played the way we wanted to, on the front foot and finding the first goal," Quill said after the loss.

"As a coach, though, you want the team to keep pushing because in this league you can't take your foot off the gas.

"This was a missed opportunity. We all need to take accountability, myself included, and find ways to improve because we're capable of being at the top of the standings."

On Saturday, they travel to the San Jose Earthquakes, who slipped out of top spot in the West after their 3-2 loss to the Seattle Sounders in midweek.

The result ended an eight-match streak without a loss, with substitute Osaze De Rosario getting the winning goal for Seattle in the 89th minute, and head coach Bruce Arena was left to rue lapses in concentration.

"We turned the ball over," Arena said when asked what the problems were in the second half against Seattle.

"Our centre-backs turned the ball over in bad spots on the field for the second and third goals. They need to be better on the ball for sure. And we need to do a better job of defending our penalty area."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

San Jose Earthquakes – Nick Fernandez

Nick Fernandez needed just 86 seconds to give San Jose the lead at Seattle.

It was the fastest goal for the club in over two years, since Bruno Wilson scored after 58 seconds against Houston in March 2024.

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Petar Musa scored his 11th goal of the season, netting from the penalty spot in Dallas' defeat to Vancouver.

Musa's 11 goals in his first 12 matches of the season are the most by a Dallas player in his first 12 appearances of a season, ahead of Jason Kreis’ 10 in both 1999 and 2002.

MATCH PREDICTION: SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Since MLS eliminated breakaway shootouts entering the 2000 season, 23 of the 60 regular-season meetings between San Jose and Dallas have been draws (SJ – W24, DAL – W13).

The only fixture with more draws in the post-shootout era is Chicago Fire versus Columbus Crew, with 24.

After opening the season with nine wins in their first 10 matches (L1), San Jose are winless in three straight (D2 L1). Even with the recent struggles, San Jose's 29 points are their most through 13 matches of a season in club history (27 in 2012).

Meanwhile, Dallas have won three of their last five away matches, including a 2-0 victory at Red Bull New York on May 2 in their last road match. Dallas have not won consecutive regular-season away matches in eight years, since wins at Toronto FC and LA Galaxy in May 2018.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

San Jose Earthquakes – 50.1%

Draw – 25.2%

FC Dallas – 24.7%