FC Dallas schedule: Sept. 4-10

FC Dallas extended their lead in the Western Conference to nine points over second-place Houston Dynamo with the 1-0 win against their southern neighbors on Saturday evening at Pizza Hut Park. FCD can become the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a spot in the 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs next weekend, when they visit Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Saturday evening. With a record of 14-8-3 (45 points), Dallas has already registered more points then in seven of the first ten seasons of play.

SCHEDULE:
Monday, Sept. 4: OFF

Tuesday, Sept. 5: OFF

Wednesday, Sept. 6: Training - 9:30 a.m. CT at Pizza Hut Park

Thursday, Sept. 7: Training - 9:30 a.m. CT at Pizza Hut Park

Friday, Sept. 8: Training - 9:30 a.m. CT at Pizza Hut Park

                             Depart for Los Angeles in the afternoon.

Saturday, Sept. 9: FC Dallas at Chivas USA - The Home Depot Center - 8:00 p.m. CT - Channel 21

Sunday, Sept. 10: FC Dallas Reserves at Chivas USA Reserves - The Home Depot Center - 8:00 a.m. CT
Return to Dallas in the afternoon.

Schedule is subject to change.

NOTES:

FC Dallas has the possibility of becoming the first team in the Western Conference to secure a berth in the 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs next weekend. An FCD win over Chivas USA combined with losses by the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake in their next games would assure Dallas of finishing among the top four teams in the Western Conference, thus qualifying for the postseason. Real Salt Lake (9-12-5, 32 pts) plays at D.C. United on Saturday, September 9 while Los Angeles (also 9-12-5, 32 pts) welcomes the Houston Dynamo on Sunday, September 10. A win by FCD would raise the point total to 48 points, while losses by RSL and LA would keep them at 32 with only five games remaining - meaning the most points those teams could each accumulate by season's end would be 47.

The 45 points accrued by FCD so far this season surpasses the point total of seven of the team's first ten seasons. The most points a Dallas team ever accumulated was during the 1999 season, when they finished with a record of 19-13-0 and 51 points. Dallas finished with 46 points in 2000 (14-14-4) and 48 points in 2005 (13-10-9). The 14 victories are the most in a season since 2000.

FCD has been in first place in the Western Conference for all but four days so far this season. Following a 4-3 loss to Houston on May 6, FCD dropped from first to second place. However, Dallas regained the lead four days later with a 1-0 win over Los Angeles on May 10 at Pizza Hut Park. The team has remained in first place in the Western Conference ever since. No Dallas team has ever finished an MLS regular season in first place in their Conference.

FCD has surrendered only 29 goals this year, posting six shutouts along the way. With seven games remaining, FCD has a chance to post the best defensive season in team history. The fewest goals a Dallas team has ever surrendered in a full season were 35 during the 2000 campaign. Only D.C. United has given up fewer goals then Dallas in MLS play this season (25), while LA has also only been scored on 29 times.

FCD rookies Dax McCarty and Blake Wagner rejoin their teammates this week following a 10 day camp with the U.S. U-20 team in the Busan Four Nations International Tournament in Busan, South Korea. The team dropped the fist game to South Korea 5-0, lost 1-0 to Slovakia, and defeated Argentina 3-1. McCarty started in all three games, scoring once against Argentina. Wagner started two and came off the bench against Slovakia.

The FC Dallas Reserve team will be back in action on Sunday, facing the Chivas USA Reserves. FCD has a record of 4-3-2 (14 points) in the Reserve Division, placing the team in fifth place in the single table standings.

Dallas stretched their lead in the Western Conference to nine points over second-place Houston over the weekend. D.C. United became the first team in the Eastern Conference to clinch a spot in the playoffs.