| POS | TEAM | PLD | PTS |
| 1 | CLB | 30 | 49 |
| 2 | LA | 30 | 48 |
| 3 | HOU | 30 | 48 |
| 4 | CHI | 30 | 45 |
| 5 | SEA | 30 | 47 |
| 6 | CHV | 30 | 45 |
| 7 | NE | 30 | 42 |
| 8 | RSL | 30 | 40 |
| 9 | COL | 20 | 40 |
| 10 | DC | 30 | 40 |
| 11 | FCD | 30 | 39 |
| 12 | TFC | 30 | 39 |
| 13 | KC | 30 | 33 |
| 14 | SJ | 30 | 30 |
| 15 | NY | 30 | 21 |
| 16 | PHI | 0 | 0 |
Winters are often dark and lonely places for fans of Major League Soccer. While England is celebrating a full slate of traditional Boxing Day fixtures, most MLS fans are wondering what possible surprises- good and bad- our beloved American clubs will have in store for us in the off-season.
Sometimes miracles don’t happen. The late surge by FC Dallas to secure an incredibly unlikely post-season berth came up short at packed Qwest Field in chilly Seattle as Dallas fell 2-1 to Seattle Sounders FC. Despite a furious late-season push, Dallas entered the match needing a win to secure a place in the post-season. Seattle, already having secured their place, still had final positioning in mind.
FC Dallas continued their scorching hot run for an improbable playoff berth Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco with a well-played 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids in front of 15,243. In a virtual must-win match for the home club, Dallas defenders George John and Ugo Ihemelu provided all the scoring Dallas would need for the win.
FC Dallas continued their improbable late-season run for the playoffs with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes Wednesday night at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Thank you, MLS playoff system.
Following last week’s excellent end-to-end shutout victory, FC Dallas again played a nearly flawless match as they used a goal from the head of Jeff Cunningham to forge a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution at a festive Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Playing as opening billing to the Mexico / Columbia friendly, FC Dallas beat the Revolution for the first time since 2006.
Jeff Cunningham’s torrid goal-scoring streak continued Saturday night as his two goals all but ended road-sick Real Salt Lake’s playoff chances in a 3-0 FC Dallas win. In what might have been the most complete match of the season, FC Dallas went ahead in the 5th minute against the early run of play. Dax McCarty’s hustle earned a win of the ball deep in the Salt Lake end. McCarty sent a pass to the feet of David Ferreira, whose cross into Dave Van Den Berg was deflected up to a streaking Cunningham. Cunningham took the ball on the volley and slammed it past helpless Nick Rimando for the 1-0 lead.
In American football, teams often look to try to win the game on at least two of the “three” sides of the ball, offense, defense and special teams. Soccer, of course, is a much more free-flowing sport, but winning offense and defense is sometimes not enough to win a match. If soccer has a pointy-ball equivalent, it is the set-piece that comes closest to special teams. Poor play on set-pieces can and do cost teams matches.
FC Dallas reversed a season-long trend Saturday night at the Home Depot Center against the LA Galaxy, exploding for four second half goals to bury the home team 6-3 in front of 18,148. It was the first time this season the rejuvenated Galaxy had given up as many as four goals in a match and the first time in their history the club had given up six. The beating left LA looking much like FC Dallas did only a year ago in a match that saw David Beckham’s Dallas debut send Dallas to a 5-1 defeat and the sacking of FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow.
What could reasonably be predicted to be the starting 2010 starting backline for FC Dallas started Saturday night against DC United at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. New addition Ugo Ihemelu, Kyle Davies, George John, and Jair Benitez all took the field in a sneak-peak of what Dallas may look like next season.
In the no good, horrible, very bad season of 2009, FC Dallas has continued to invent new ways to disappoint. In between the rare wins and streaks of improved play, this team has found new bottoms of misery and ineptitude. But Sunday afternoon on the rock-hard astro-whatever of Giants Stadium in New Jersey, FC Dallas plumbed new depths in a 3-2 loss to 10-men New York Red Bulls. This match was a trap from the start.
Undefeated so far…
FCD has their first scrimmage of 2010 this Saturday.
Surprise I didn’t talk about it exceeds surprise he signed a USL deal.
Dax, Heath, and Jeff get another chance to impress Bradley.
All sorts of stuff
Our version, which includes USOC, US Nats, and PHP conflicts, is here.
Ok, just three, but still fun.
The premiere level SuperGroup for the Dallas Cup has been finalized.
The rumor is now a done deal.
By passing on Osa Romero. (plus 2 linked striker names)
Day 1 of camp and the latest on the international attacking player *** Late morning update ***
Some DMN coverage, Politics, and Hyndman defends Cunningham
And why this helps FC Dallas.
The roster, the pre-season schedule and much much more.
Avila, Labor talks extended and the rumor of the day.