Soccer / Chris Ryan / 18 September 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Their record is 7-11-6, just seventh in the West (and tied for 12th overall), and their average home attendance of 9,311 is worst in all of Major League Soccer. It hasn't been what you'd call a banner season for FC Dallas. But it has been, undeniably, an exciting one, writes Brian Heard.

What all the folks staying away from Pizza Hut Park, which seats 21,193, have missed are goals, goals and more goals.

FCD is tied for the league lead in goals scored (39) with D.C. United. But they're also tied for second to last (13th) in goals allowed (40) with San Jose.

Last Saturday was another prime example of the thrilling, end-to-end, attacking style Dallas has made its signature under head coach Schellas Hyndman.

The 6-3 win over the Galaxy in Los Angeles was the second time this season FCD has scored six goals in a game, a feat accomplished only once by any other club in the last three years. In fact, six or more goals scored by one team (the record is eight by the Galaxy in 1998) in a single game has been done only 22 times in MLS history. Not to mention, it was a game Galaxy wanted desperately with a chance to go top of the table in the West.

The onslaught was marshaled by striker Jeff Cunningham's dazzling display. The 33-year-old, 12-year MLS vet, scored twice (should've had three) and assisted on two others. That's 12 goals for the season, one off league leader Conor Casey's 13, and nine in his last seven games. He also now has seven assists.

"Jeff's a great player," said FCD's teenage midfielder Brek Shea, who assisted on Cunningham's second goal, a stunning one-time strike from the upper-right corner of the box. "You can give him the ball anywhere and he scores."

Cunningham, born and raised in Jamaica but now an American citizen, has been dynamite, for sure, but there's been plenty of other sparks lighting Dallas's tinder box. Midfielder Dax McCarty, a 22-year-old American, has been in great form, as has recently acquired midfielder Atiba Harris, a 24-year-old from St. Kitts.

Add in the contributions of 33-year-old Dutchman Dave van den Bergh (3 goals, 8 assists) in midfield and 30-year-old Colombian David Ferreira (6 goals, 4 assists) up front and it's not too tough to understand why FCD is so lethal going forward. Now, if they could only defend.

This week's games

FCD's scoring exploits aside; another week gone is another week closer to the end of the regular season. To wit, the end is near and six of this weekend's seven fixtures in MLS have serious implications in a very congested playoff picture.

Game of the Week

Sunday, Sept. 20

Columbus Crew (11-4-9) at Chicago Fire (10-6-9)

With five to play, the Crew with a game in hand and the Fire three points down in the table, Chicago has its last, best chance to win the East this weekend.

But the Fire will have to overcome their very average home form (4-4-4) at beautiful Toyota Park and a Crew team which has won six of seven in league, scored a huge 1-0 win at midweek in the CONCACAF Champions League at Costa Rican powerhouse Saprissa and took down West-leading Houston, 2-1, on a stoppage-time penalty kick by Eddie Gaven last weekend.

Crew will have to play without suspended Scottish midfielder Adam Moffat, who was shown straight red in the Dynamo game for a scuffle with Ricardo Clark, who was also shown red.

The others

Friday, Sept. 18

New England Revolution (9-8-6) at New York Red Bulls (4-17-4)

So much for New England's renaissance and run at the postseason. After winning three in a row and moving to within striking distance of the top of the table in the East, the Revs have dropped two straight and have dipped to fifth and out of the playoff picture ... for now. They do have a game or games in hand with every other postseason contender besides Chivas.

The Red Bulls' magical, memorable, season-making, two-game winning streak came to a shocking conclusion last week against the powerful Wizards. OK, OK, it wasn't shocking and the Wizards aren't powerful.

Colorado Rapids (10-8-6) at San Jose Earthquakes (5-12-5)

The loss to Toronto last week really hurt the Rapids - a win would have sent them to second in the West and put them on firm ground for the postseason.

They'll have to make amends on the road - not their strong suit (2-6-3) - against last-place San Jose. And they'll likely have to do it without defender Cory Gibbs (thigh strain). Midfielder Pablo Mastroeni is out on suspension as well.

Saturday, Sept. 19

Chivas USA (11-9-3) at Seattle Sounders FC (9-6-10)

Do the math. The playoff cutoff as we speak is 36 points. Seattle is on 37 points, Chivas is on 36. Does the relevance of this fixture require an explanation?

Fredy Montero's 11th goal of the season in the 84th minute gave Seattle a much-needed three points in the nation's capitol, boosting them into third place in the West. But they'll have to play without defender Carey Talley, out with a red-card suspension.

Chivas's injury woes haven't prevented it from staying right in the middle of the postseason hunt. Newly signed 25-year-old Brazilian Maicon Santos scored his first-ever MLS goal in a 2-0 win over the Revs last weekend.

FC Dallas (7-11-6) at Kansas City Wizards (7-11-6)

The only game of the weekend that doesn't impact the playoff picture. But it does have significance to the combatants. The winner (if there is one) would move up to 12th overall, the loser (if there is one) would drop to 13th. So what you say? Well, beggars can't be choosers.

Real Salt Lake (9-9-7) at Houston Dynamo (11-8-7)

Suddenly the Dynamo can't win. Four straight MLS games without one; five in a row including CONCACAF Champions League contests. If they don't win on Saturday given their home form (7-1-4) and Real's road woes (2-8-2), somebody better start an investigation. Maybe age has finally caught up with the veteran-dominated lineup. Still, they've managed to cling to the lead in the West at 40 points - two up on L.A.

For Real, the time is now. At 34 points with only five to play, a loss could mean the end of the road. They'll have to play without Clint Mathis (ankle sprain) and Tony Beltran (caution accumulation) though.

Toronto FC (9-9-7) at Los Angeles Galaxy (9-5-11)

Galaxy must be ruing missing out on the chance to go top of table, but must get over the stunning 6-3 loss to Dallas. As they showed in that game though their home form at Home Depot Center is sketchy (4-4-4).

Toronto at 34 points is in must-win mode. TFC fans breathed a collective sigh of relief after the 3-2 win over Colorado last week.

Youngsters O'Brian White and Nana Attakora scored within three minutes of each other midway through the second half to seal the deal. Swiss goalie Stefan Frei has been in outstanding form, winning MLS Save of the Week for the third straight week. Can they continue the upward momentum?

Top defender Adrian Serioux (neck) is questionable. But new signing Julian de Guzman, a 28-year-old Canadian midfielder who played for Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga from 2005-09, should make his club debut.

Tags: DC United, FC Dallas, Soccer