CARSON, Calif. - Kenny Cooper again proved to be FC Dallas' lucky charm as his early goal sent FCD to a 2-0 victory against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Sunday afternoon. Abe Thompson added a late goal to round out the score.
With the result, FC Dallas extended its all-time undefeated record to 15-0-3 in matches in which Cooper has scored a goal, a streak dating back to 2006. The win also leaves FCD as the only remaining unbeaten team in the league this season.
The win also helped FCD avenge its last meeting with Chivas USA, a 1-1 draw in Dallas where the visitors stole a late goal.
This time, however, both sides were forced to make do without two key starters. The FC Dallas duo of Juan Toja and Pablo Ricchetti both did not play because of injury. Likewise, Chivas USA were without the services of Francisco Mendoza and Sacha Kljestan, both of whom received red cards in last week's Chivas USA loss to Columbus.
FCD had an ideal start to the match. In the fifth minute, Dax McCarty sent a cross into the Chivas USA penalty area from the right flank. Ricardinho headed the long ball from the left side of the area downward across the goal area where Cooper was in perfect position to slam the bouncing ball into the back of the net. The goal was Cooper's fourth of the season.
Chivas USA made its first threat on goal in the 27th minute. Maykel Galindo sent a low pass across the FCD penalty area to an onrushing Justin Braun. As Braun slid toward the ball to make an attempt on goal, an FCD defender was there to get a leg on the ball and break up the play.
Later, FCD defender Adrian Serioux displayed his strong throw-in ability when he launched a ball across the Chivas USA penalty area from the left sideline. The ball was headed by Blake Wagner just wide right of the goal.
Galindo nearly broke through for the home side with two golden opportunities in a one-minute span beginning in the 28th minute. First, Galindo received a ball deep in the FCD area and tried to use his speed to dribble past defender Duilio Davino. Once inside the penalty area, though, Galindo sent his left-footed shot over the FCD goal.
Then, Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein took a ball down the left flank and sent a deft pass to Galindo on the edge of the FCD penalty area. Galindo controlled the pass with his chest before firing a shot that sailed over the crossbar out of play.
Marcelo Saragosa was the first to be shown a yellow card when he upended Paulo Nagamura near midfield in the 51st minute.
In the 57th minute, FCD 'keeper Dario Sala kept his clean sheet intact by stopping a Braun close-range shot with his body.
Chivas USA coach Preki made the first substitution of the afternoon on the hour mark, bringing veteran goal scorer Ante Razov on in place of Kraig Chiles.
FCD boss Steve Morrow went to his bench in the 71st minute, substituting forward Abe Thompson for Ricardinho.
The move paid off nine minutes later. A ball was knocked into the Chivas USA half of the field by Arturo Alvarez and Thompson sprinted from midfield to track it down. When he reached the ball, Thompson dribbled unopposed towards the goal before coolly cutting back to elude a pair of backtracking defenders and side-footing the ball past Brad Guzan to give FCD a 2-0 lead.
Razov nearly made a highlight reel goal in the 90th minute. Bornstein sent a sharp cross into the FCD penalty area and Razov hit the ball with a sidewinding scissors-kick but the ball banged off the right goal post, the closest Chivas USA came to breaking the FCD defense on the afternoon.
Danny Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
