FRISCO — Eric Quill was teary-eyed. 

“To see Musa score was like a proud dad moment, and a proud coach moment, because I know how hard that guy works, and this is a childhood dream of his,” Quill said Thursday after an FC Dallas practice.

In first half stoppage time, the 28-year-old Croatian fired a volley past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to level the match at 2-2 before the break. Musa ran toward his countryman with a surreal look on his face, realizing his dream of scoring on soccer’s biggest stage had come true.

“I’m not surprised seeing him score, we see that every day in training,” FC Dallas defender Bernard Kamungo said Thursday. “I love that for him, and he doesn’t get satisfied. This man practices every day as if he doesn’t score every weekend.”

Midfielder Sam Sarver ran into traveling Croatians on Tuesday night while out in Frisco. When he told them he was Musa’s MLS teammate, they were in disbelief.

“Being able to tell people I play with that guy is pretty cool,” Sarver said. “They idolize these national team players. So it’s cool not only to see him play in the World Cup but then to contribute and score is pretty cool.”

Sarver, a 23-year-old Cleveland native who has three goals in 10 MLS appearances, said seeing Musa and other FC Dallas teammates earn World Cup call-ups inspires his own career aspirations. 

“There’s honestly no one more deserving on our team for international co-op,” Sarver said. “It shows you how obtainable those goals are. Every player’s ultimate goal is to play in the World Cup. So, hopefully by the next World Cup, I’m integrated with the U.S. men’s national team. That’s one of my goals, as I think that’s for every player that plays here.” 

FC Dallas is fourth in the Western Conference standings and won’t resume competition until July 22 against the Portland Timbers, the first match of a seven-game road trip. Until then, Quill will be reminiscing about Wednesday’s moment. 

“I think over time it’ll probably resonate more as to what yesterday really truly was,” Quill said. “But I got to just enjoy the day with my kids, my wife. And to see Musa, a player of mine, the stars aligned.”