The last time Chivas USA and FC Dallas crossed paths was on July 4 and the fortunes were vastly different for both sides. FCD was atop the MLS Western Conference standings with 26 points after 16 matches while Chivas was in the third spot, six points behind the Hoops.
But since then, things have definitely changed. Chivas have gone on a tear since that holiday battle, a 2-0 FCD victory, and are riding a 10-game unbeaten streak with seven wins in that time. FCD, on the other hand, has seen their fortunes go south as the Hoops have won just twice in their last eight games.
Since that Independence Day encounter, Chivas USA has played three more games than FC Dallas -- winning them all. As a result, Chivas currently sits in the top spot in the Western Conference with 51 points and could clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs this weekend while FCD sits in third with 43 points.
FCD head coach Steve Morrow knows it is a different Chivas team that his side will face on Thursday evening in Frisco.
"I thought we won the last game at home against Chivas relatively comfortably," Morrow said. "They've had a very good run of games (since then). The way they play is very simple, a 4-4-2. They work very hard for each other, have a good structure and a good shape. They've got a couple of guys up top here scoring goals and defend well as a team together."
Hoops defender Drew Moor is impressed by Chivas because their turnaround has come without many roster moves.
"I don't think they've made a lot of personnel changes," Moor said. "They still have the same group of players. It's (Maykel) Galindo, who has been scoring goals for them all year, (Sacha) Kljestan, Jesse Marsch and (Ante) Razov, who can still score for them. We need to come out, play sound defensively and take our chances when they come."
Despite the Hoops' recent struggles and Chivas USA's momentum, the FCD boss expects Thursday's match to be a hotly contested affair.
"It's just going to be a good game," Morrow said. "It's a good game at the right time for us as well. It's going to be competitive and it's a team that we might meet in the playoffs, so I think psychologically, it's a big game for us."
In that July 4 match, FCD got the game-winner from midfielder Ramon Nunez in the 41st minute. It was his last goal wearing hoops as he was traded to Chivas on Aug. 15. The Dallas native has played in seven matches since the swap, two of those starts and has three assists for his new side.
The Hoops will be without several other players from that match on Thursday. Defensive midfielder Pablo Ricchetti remains sidelined with a groin injury, center back Clarence Goodson continues to be bothered by a hamstring and fellow central defender Alex Yi is working his way back from a concussion. None of the three trained this week.
In addition, captain Carlos Ruiz will also be missing as the Guatemalan international will be serving the final game of his two-game suspension after he went over the yellow card limit as well as being sent off in a 3-0 loss to Houston on Sept. 30.
On a more positive note, FCD forward Kenny Cooper could likely make his first start since June 9, when he broke his right tibia in a win against the LA Galaxy. Cooper was a second-half substitute in last Wednesday's loss to New England in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
FCD comes off a 3-1 win at Columbus on Saturday, a victory that secured the Hoops a playoff spot for the third consecutive season. Abe Thompson netted two goals in the win. Chivas is coming off a 3-2 victory against Real Salt Lake that extended their unbeaten streak which began on Aug. 18.
"Clearly, they're a team that's on a great run at the moment," said right back Bobby Rhine. "They have loads of confidence as they should because they've been playing and performing well. They're a team that passes and moves the ball well. Within that, they're always in the right spots to defend as a unit. I think that's one of the things that we need to be good at and recognize [Thursday] night."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
