FC Dallas started the 2007 regular season with three consecutive matches away from home and the Hoops took four points from those road affairs with 1-1-1 record. On Sunday, FCD opened the home portion of their schedule with a 3-1 win against Colorado at Pizza Hut Park, getting a pair of goals from Ramon Nunez and another from Dominic Oduro.
This week, the Hoops will host two more matches in Frisco. On Thursday, the New York Red Bulls pay a visit to the Lone Star State for a game televised nationally on ESPN2. Then, on Sunday, the New England Revolution will make their only regular season Pizza Hut Park appearance of the year in a match televised on Telefutura.
For FCD head coach Steve Morrow and his players, having the next two games at home presents a great opportunity to rack up some more points and start a home winning streak before they head into a nearly two-week break before their next match.
"I think (Sunday) was important to get off to a good start at home," Morrow said. "We want to have that confidence of being strong on our home field and having a home field advantage. Getting three points in our first home game was an important step psychologically as well."
By hosting the Red Bulls on Thursday, Morrow and FCD get a chance to make up for a poor performance at Giants Stadium on April 15, a rainy, cold afternoon affair that ended in a 3-0 defeat.
"Thursday's game is a good chance to make up for a bad performance in New York," Morrow said. "That was the only negative so far in the four games that we've played. I think it's a good early chance to put that right."
This week will mark the second time already this season that FCD will play both on Thursday and Sunday. On April 12, they defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 at The Home Depot Center but followed that up with the loss to New York. Despite the early-season schedule not being kind, Morrow isn't ready to use that as an excuse.
"To play Thursday and Sunday games is tough and to have a game the following weekend is also tough," Morrow said. "That's how it is and we have to live with it. It's not going to be an easy turnaround having to play on Sunday but we have a rest after that game, so that makes it not too bad."
After Sunday's match against the Revs, FCD will have nearly two weeks off before traveling to Kansas City on Saturday, May 12. That match could see the debut of Hoops goalkeeper Dario Sala, who has been serving a six-game suspension for his involvement in an altercation during the 2006 playoffs.
In 2006, FCD was practically unbeatable at home, going 12-3-1, the top home record in the league. They look to continue that trend this season.
"It's always good to win home games because you don't know what's going to happen on the road," said FCD second-year striker Dominic Oduro. "As much as possible, we need to secure points at home. I think that's what we're going to do in the next two games."
Added right back Drew Moor: "We're going to prepare for it as if we want to get two more wins before we have a little break. It's still early in the season and there are still a lot of games to be played. But you want to be able to take advantage at home. We had a great home record last year and want to do the same this year."
The Hoops defeated New York 2-1 on July 8, 2006, getting the first MLS goals from Oduro in the second and David Wagenfuhr in the 33rd minutes. FCD lost Carlos Ruiz to a hamstring injury early in that match and he missed three games before returning on Aug. 12 against Houston.
FCD last lost to New York in Texas on Sept. 25, 2004, when the then-MetroStars handed them a 2-0 defeat at the Cotton Bowl.
As for the Revs, FCD blanked them 4-0 on May 20, 2006, getting all four goals in the first 19 minutes with two from Ruiz, one from Nunez and another from Kenny Cooper as the Hoops set a league record for the quickest four goals to start an MLS game.
Aug. 13, 2005 was the last time the Revs came to town and left with a win. On that day, goals from Clint Dempsey and Shalrie Joseph drove them to a 2-1 win at the Cotton Bowl.
Yet another big plus for FCD is getting to play two more games in a great home atmopshere at Pizza Hut Park, which was sold out for Sunday's home opener.
"It felt great," said Moor. "The atmosphere and turnout were great. They were with us the whole way and that's the way home games should be. Hopefully, playing like that and getting a good result will continue to bring them out and give us such great support."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
