July 29th, 2008 . 9:42 am . By: Peter Welpton

It is certainly funny how a victory can scrub the brain of dirt and crust that builds while your team is losing or looking like crap.

Sunday’s 4-0 win against the Galaxy had feelings and atmosphere unlike Dallas has had too many times. The sold-out stadium, the ‘white elephants’ in the park and then the solid victory in front of so many people. Combined it made for a fun night at Pizza Hut Park, something that has been lacking from that place for a very long time.

The odd thing about seeing PHP filled up is how it not only what a great place it can be, but it really exposes just how empty the place tends to be 95% of the time. When you see a soccer stadium in the North Texas area packed with people having grand time it simply fulfills the dreams each of them have about FC Dallas and what it should be. Unfortunately for reasons too many to list, what we actually get are dates where the joint is maybe half full and the questions ask if soccer in Dallas, excuse me – Frisco, will ever work. It was nice to see the potential in person.

Then there was those two players who might be showing their faces for the last time. Toja and Cooper. Funny how both were/are on the verge of leaving the team, but Cooper actually played. While no one wants to believe that Juan has been sandbagging it this season the evidence does seem to appear that he can “turn it on” if he wants to, and spotting him strolling through the Verizon club he certainly seemed to be enjoying not being out in the heat. When different FCD officials were pressed to explain Toja’s injury, you generally got the curt, “calf strain from the All Star game” comment and sometimes you got the unknowing shrug along with it.

Cooper on the other hand simply put on his best game of the season. And after the game he put on a display of professionalism that should have been taped and used as an educational tool. Kenny so smartly, and rightly pushed aside the talk of his transfer that it almost had a “media whisperer” effect during the press conference. Tobias Lopez broke the ice with an immediate, “This you’re last game?”, question and Kenny simply told the crowd that he didn’t want to take away from his coaches’ first win and the team’s victory. That was it. And almost as if to rub in his class, the ball he collected wasn’t for him to put next to his bed to remember his last FC Dallas match – no – it was a gift for his new coach and his first FCD win.

Take that O’BrienRuizNunezAlvarezJohnsonandwhoeverelsepouted.

The game itself was not a spectacle of beautiful soccer. It was just too damned hot for that.

Beckham and Gullit both admitted that the heat had bested their squad even before kickoff. Combined with some late injuries, LA was doomed the minute they opened and stuffed their head inside the oven door.

FC Dallas’ move to a 4-4-2 certainly seemed to help open their game. The team did not look to get caught as much moving forward. Having LA’s backline in organizational disarray certainly was a help, but Dallas was able to get behind them with some slicing through balls and crosses.

Eric Alvia’s debut was solid. No, he was not a game changer, but the kid simply worked as hard as anyone has over 90 minutes, and remember, it was 110 degrees on the field. If anything it was an impressive display of the kid’s condition. It will be fun to watch as he gels with his teammates, whoever they turn out to be.

Bonus credit to Dominic who also threw out his best game. His goal displayed a few great traits, but it was his assist to Cooper on goal #2 that shows that Dom is growing and learning. That simple square pass is something he probably would not have done six weeks ago.

Grades:

Sala: 6 – Not asked to do much

Moor: 7 – Gave Ruiz fits, deserves a ‘10′ just for that.

Pitch: 7 – Quiet game, good for Aaron.

Davino: 8 – Also his best game in Hoops.

Serioux: 7 – He didn’t kill David, but David didn’t beat him.

Rocha: 6 – Not his best game, crosses were off – but still the team’s best midfielder this season.

Alvarez: 7 – The shocking good through ball on Orduro’s goal is what Arturo can do. But the team was right to trade him.

Avila: 6 – Worked so hard and that is a great place to start.

Ricchetti: 7 – Also a wonderfully quiet night of doing what he really does best.

Cooper: 9 – Points for his game and professionalism. Only a minus for not returning the favor to Dom just before halftime.

Oduro: 8 – Watching him in full flight is like a Discovery Channel documentary. Beautiful and odd all at the same time. Dallas could benefit from him breaking out like Arturo did late last season.

Categories: Burning Senstation, Commentary.

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