Opening the season with a four-game unbeaten streak was enough to thrust FC Dallas to the top of the Western Conference. However, since that fantastic start, the Hoops have gone without a win in their last three after dropping a 2-1 result on the road to Real Salt on Saturday.
Before making the trip to the Wasatch Front, Dallas had been held scoreless in their last two outings, losing 1-0 to the New England Revolution at home and then tying the Earthquakes 0-0 in San Jose.
It was apparent that the lack of goals was on head coach Steve Morrow's mind as he lined his team up with three forwards, a tactic not used since Dallas played Chivas three games ago. That was the last time the Hoops were able gain a win and it was also the last time they were able to score.
The problems for FCD started in the 28th minute when goalkeeper Dario Sala sent an attempted clearance off of two of his defenders, Andre Rocha and Drew Moor, before it fell at the feet of Salt Lake's Javier Morales. The RSL midfielder only needed to push the ball between the confused FCD defenders to give Salt Lake the lead.
"It's a difficult place to come and play but we got ourselves back into the game after not playing too well in the first half," said Morrow. "We were 1-0 down, on a very scrappy and unlucky goal that could have been prevented, and we got ourselves back into the game."
Dallas might not have been able to get the win against Salt Lake, but they were able to break their scoreless stretch. In the 56th minute Kenny Cooper ran on to a bouncing ball sent into space by Andre Rocha. Just before reaching the end line Cooper sent an impossible blast from hardly an angle that knocked off the underside of the crossbar. It was the lone bright spot on an otherwise disappointing night.
When asked about his goal, Cooper instantly deflected all praise to Rocha for providing him the service.
"Andre Rocha played me a great ball through, it's the second time he's done it this year," said Cooper. "(The other) against Houston he played me a great through ball. I've been real fortunate so far this year, I've been getting some great service."
Although Cooper's equalizer energized his team Morrow felt that they didn't seize the opportunity to take the game to RSL from that point. Missing that opportunity to really turn the game around is what Morrow feels cost FCD the game.
"We should have pushed forward from there and didn't," said Morrow. "We still had our chances to tie the game towards the end and didn't. It's a frustrating loss -- a disappointing one. But, the team will pick themselves up and get ready for the next one."
Cooper echoed the sentiments of his coach. Although they have experienced a series of unfortunate results, all they can do is prepare for the next game.
"Obviously it's not the result that we wanted," said Cooper. "Credit to them, defensively we've been great all year. Dario (Sala)'s been excellent, and the back three. I feel like we were a little unlucky on the first goal. But, we'll stay positive and we have a big game coming up next week against the Galaxy."
FC Dallas captain Duilio Davino says that his team is not satisfied, and there is only one way to get out of the rut that they are current stuck in -- work hard.
"We let too many points get away from us, and we really need to work hard for next weekend's game," said Davino. "Working is how you get the team back after a game like this; working is the only way to do it. We have a long week and it's not necessary that we speak a lot, it's that we work a lot for it."
Scott McAllister is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
