The third time was the charm for FC Dallas, who secured a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs in their third attempt, getting two early goals and never looking back Saturday night in a 2-1 victory against Real Salt Lake at Pizza Hut Park.
Carlos Ruiz scored in the ninth minute and Kenny Cooper in the 14th to send FCD on its way. RSL forward Jeff Cunningham scored his league-leading 16th goal of the season in the 48th minute to cut the Hoops' lead, but that was as close as the visitors could come.
With the win, FCD clinched a playoff berth, becoming the first team to do so in the Western Conference and only the third league side to do so, joining the East's Chicago Fire and D.C. United, who lead the race for the Supporters' Shield by six points over the Hoops with three games remaining.
Virtually from the opening kickoff, FCD played with a sense of urgency not seen in recent weeks. Ruiz had two shots in the opening two minutes but both were saved by RSL goalkeeper Scott Garlick.
But in the ninth minute, the Hoops won a free kick from about 25 yards out and to the right of the Salt Lake net. Veteran defender Greg Vanney sent a beautiful, bending ball toward the far post and Ruiz was on target with a header that went between Garlick and the post to open the FC Dallas account. It was his team-leading 11th goal of the season.
Garlick was victimized again in the 14th minute when Cooper sent a bomb toward the goal from about 20 yards out. The veteran 'keeper thought the high arcing ball wasn't a threat and made no effort to play it as the ball curled just inside the far post to make it 2-0 for his 10th goal on the season.
FCD midfielder Richard Mulrooney had a great chance before the first half ended. In the 30th minute, he sent a blistering ball toward the RSL goal, but Garlick made a leaping save to knock it over the crossbar.
Hoops winger Ronnie O'Brien also nearly scored in the 35th minute, but his scorching free kick went just high of the Salt Lake net.
RSL got its first shot in the 16th minute from Andy Williams, but his effort was deflected. Jason Kreis, the MLS all-time leading scorer who played in Dallas from 1996-2004, had a great look at the goal in the 17th minute, but his shot was saved by FCD goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, making his first start in league action.
The visitors' best shot at breaking through came in the 40th minute when RSL midfielder Chris Klein got a nice look at the FCD net but Hislop was there for the save. Hislop rushed over to cover the ensuing rebound and the threat was over.
In the 48th minute, Salt Lake made a game of it when Cunningham, who had not previously been heard from during the match, got in behind two FCD defenders to run onto a long pass from Willis Forko and beat Hislop inside the far post to make it 2-1. It was Cunningham's 16th goal of the season, most in MLS, and Forko's assist was the first of his MLS career for the Houston native.
O'Brien nearly made it 3-1 in the 57th when he streaked up the right side of the field, creating a great look at the opposing goal. But his shot was well played by Garlick as he got a hand on his former teammate's shot and sent it over the endline.
By clinching against RSL, it marked the second consecutive year that the Hoops have clinched a playoff berth against the Utah club at Pizza Hut Park, getting two goals from Roberto Mina last Sept. 18 in a 2-1 win.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
