When FC Dallas open their 2007 campaign Saturday night against Real Salt Lake at Rice-Eccles Stadium, they will do so without one of the key components of last year's regular season Western Conference title. That's because goalkeeper Dario Sala will begin serving a six-game suspension for an post-game altercation after FCD lost to Colorado in the conference semifinal series.
In his place between the posts for the season opener will be Shaka Hislop, a veteran of the English Premier League who last summer delivered a scintillating performance for Trinidad and Tobago in a surprising draw against heavily-favored Sweden in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
FCD signed him last July and Hislop joined the Hoops about a month later. But his performance since coming to Frisco has been up and down. In his first match, a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal at Houston last August, Hislop allowed three goals in a less-than-stellar debut.
Then, on Sept. 23 against RSL, he performed much better in a 2-1 FCD win that clinched a playoff spot for his side. But, the following week at Columbus, he again was beaten for three goals by a Crew team that scored the fewest goals in MLS (30 in 32 games).
Again, the following week against the Los Angeles Galaxy, he was solid in a 2-1 victory that clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs for FCD. But just one week later, in a meaningless regular season finale against L.A., they scored on him five times.
During preseason, Hislop has delivered a clunker or two but has performed well as of late. On March 11, he was in goal as Columbus scored three goals in a 3-0 win in the inaugural Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup. Then, on March 17, Chicago tagged him for three but FCD won 4-3 in the Saturn Cup in Norman, Okla.
But in his last two starts, a 2-0 win against Rochester on March 24 in Puerto Rico and a 1-0 loss to Clube Aletico Paranaense on Saturday, he has looked markedly better, giving the FCD faithful some cause for optimism as the Hoops head into the start of the regular season.
"I think Shaka has been solid in the last few games," said FCD head coach Steve Morrow. "We have only conceded one goal in the last few games. He's been a lot more solid and I think he's gradually getting back to full fitness. He's worked hard in the last couple of weeks with his sharpness in training and I think that's starting to pay off. I think come the weekend, he'll be ready."
Morrow chalks up Hislop's struggles in the earlier parts of preseason to back problems the veteran 'keeper was having.
"I think he had a good rest in the offseason," he said. "He had a couple of back issues in the offseason and didn't come back in great shape. We knew we had six or seven weeks to get him fully fit, which at the moment, he looks like he's going to be OK."
Even though his time so far with the Hoops has been characterized by inconsistency, Hislop is nonetheless undeterred and ready for his next challenge.
"I'm looking forward to it," Hislop said. "Preseason is great, but you really want to get into the action and want things to matter. I'm looking forward to the start of the season. I think we've had a good preseason and that things are starting to come together at just the right time. We are quietly optimistic."
Saturday's match will be the first of three away from home to start the season. Hislop is viewing that as nothing more than a new challenge for him and his teammates.
"We're going to have to stand up and be counted in all the challenges we have this season," he said. "This is one of those. I think how we do will be a good indication of where we stand and what we need to do heading into a very difficult season."
One of the question marks for FCD heading into this season was how well the back line will perform. That was clearly a liability for the Hoops last year but Hislop likes what he has seen from the back four thus far.
"I think it's coming together great," he said. "We have a lot of young talent and defenders who are showing their worth beyond their years. We have great starters and a number of players who can come in as well. With each game, I think we've gotten better. That's a great sign for them and for us as a team."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
