On Sunday afternoon, FC Dallas returns to where their 2007 season ended, at Houston's Robertson Stadium. Last November, the Hoops' playoff run came to a halt at the hands of the now two-time defending MLS Cup champion Dynamo with a 4-1 loss to the Orange on their home field in the Western Conference Semifinals.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for FCD, who the week prior, had prevailed 1-0 in the opening leg at Pizza Hut Park. The Hoops also lost midfielder and Houston native Arturo Alvarez in the game to a red card and defender Drew Moor was also sent off late. FCD will have both available this weekend and they will look to set things right.
"Hopefully that's a distant memory for him," FCD head coach Steve Morrow said about Alvarez's ejection. "I don't want that to affect his performance or mentality in any way. From what he's shown this week, I think the opposite is true. He's so up for the game, he's excited and buzzing during training. He's ready to go and excited about it. That's the reaction and mentality we need going into the game."
FCD has one point thanks to a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA last Sunday in Frisco while the Dynamo currently have no points after losing 3-0 at New England last Saturday. But Morrow knows his side will get the absolute best from their in-state rivals this weekend.
"I think they're an experienced team and have had their dips before," Morrow said. "They had a dip early on last season as well and came back strong from it. Those guys have been together long enough that I'm sure losing one game won't bother them that much. We don't expect anything less than a big fight with them."
The Hoops have never won at Robertson. In regular season league matches, they are 0-4-0 but Morrow doesn't see any reason why that streak should continue.
"I don't think it should be viewed as a tough place to go for our boys at all," he said. "I think it's a good place to play. It's a good atmosphere down there and we should look at that as a positive. We should look forward to playing in places like that and being able to challenge ourselves. I want us to take that and use it as a strength."
Last week, FCD was without Alvarez and Moor as they were serving one-game suspensions for their red cards in the 2007 playoffs. Both return this week as does 19-year-old forward Ricardinho, who missed the season opener with an ankle injury. Dax McCarty also figures to start after being bothered by back tightness last weekend. He played the final 17 minutes against Chivas USA.
"They're all available again, which is great," Morrow said. "We didn't have them available for the first game. We have Ricardinho available again and Dax (McCarty) is working through his situation and getting back to full fitness. I think it's a tremendous boost going into Houston to have those four guys back again."
McCarty's back has been tight since the late stages of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament, when he was named one of the Best XI players in the event while playing for the U.S. under-23 team. But Morrow has seen his young midfielder's condition improve in the last week.
"I think it's improved," Morrow said. "He's just getting a little tightness but once he gets out there, gets running around and it's warmed up, he doesn't feel it as much. We've just got to keep a close eye on it. He won't play unless he's ready to go. He looked better today and I think he's feeling better each day. It's a day-to-day thing."
It's very likely that McCarty will be in the starting 11 since last week's starter at right wingback, Bobby Rhine, is questionable after leaving training on Thursday with an injured right hip flexor.
"Unfortunately, he strained a hip flexor in training," Morrow said. "He's going to be questionable for Sunday, which is disappointing."
Also questionable for the Hoops is Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Saragosa, who left last Sunday's game with a right groin strain. Defender Alex Yi is out with a left hamstring injury along with backup goalkeeper Josh Lambo and David Wagenfuhr, who both have concussions.
Houston also has several players injured. Midfielders Brad Davis (left groin strain), Stuart Holden (left knee sprain) and Brian Mullan (left ankle sprain) are listed as doubtful for Sunday's game.
But the news is a little better for the Orange in the back as both Eddie Robinson (left knee swelling) and Craig Waibel (right hamstring strain) are both probable and expected to start on Sunday.
Alvarez figures to play up top alongside Kenny Cooper while Moor will likely return to his starting spot on the right of the back three alongside Duilio Davino and Adrian Serioux.
The Hoops also should be well-rested, especially since the Dynamo played a match earlier in the week in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, but Morrow doesn't think that fatigue will be an issue.
"I don't really think so," he said. "They've got an extra day to recover now as well. I'm sure come Sunday, the game on Wednesday will be a distant memory for them."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
