One point is all that separates FC Dallas from punching their ticket to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive year. The Hoops, who grabbed just four of a possible 18 points in September, look to start the last month of the season off in positive fashion when they face the Columbus Crew on Saturday night at Crew Stadium.
Historically, Columbus is not a place that has been kind to FCD. All-time, the Hoops are just 3-11-5 in the Ohio capital and that includes an 0-7-5 mark at Crew Stadium. FCD and the Crew played to a scoreless tie there on May 1, 2004 but FCD's last win in Columbus came on July 25, 1998, when they prevailed 2-1 in a match at Ohio Stadium.
This game has big playoff implications for both sides. While FCD needs just one point to clinch, the Crew currently sit in ninth spot, two markers behind Chicago and need a positive result on Saturday to remain in contention. Columbus comes off a disappointing 2-1 loss to the suddenly resurgent LA Galaxy last Sunday.
FCD comes off a 3-2 loss to the New England Revolution on Wednesday in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final and in their last league match fell 3-0 to Houston on Sunday at home. But head coach Steve Morrow is adamant that his side heads to Ohio with a great deal of confidence.
"We're going to go there very positive," Morrow said. "We know it's going to be a fight more than anything. We're facing a team that's fighting for their lives trying to get into the playoffs. I think that's exactly what this team needs right now."
For Morrow, his gameplan for the Crew is simple. "We want to go in there, show a lot of character and a lot of fight because us being a more talented team isn't going to be enough to win the game," he said. "We have to go in and show a lot of fight and spirit in the game. If we don't do that, then we will find ourselves in a tough spot. We have to be mentally prepared heading into the game."
The Hoops will take the field without starting defensive midfielder Pablo Ricchetti, who left the Open Cup final with a groin strain at halftime. Adrian Serioux will likely move up from center back to take his spot with Aaron Pitchkolan his likely replacement in the back.
"With Pablo (Ricchetti), he won't be fit," Morrow said. "He has a groin strain and we're not sure how long it's going to be right now. It could be just a few days or a week or two. We're just unsure at the moment."
Serioux spent the second half in that role, a position he played sporadically last year in Houston. The Canadian international knows that recent results aside, FCD has one simple goal for Saturday's match.
"Right now, our main objective is just getting a win in these last three games to definitely clinch a spot for the playoffs," Serioux said. "We know that we will go into Columbus and have our work cut out for us because it's not an easy game. They're obviously fighting for position for now. It's going to take teamwork for us. We're pretty close to clinching a spot and if we can just carry on that momentum that we will get tomorrow night, we will be all right."
The loss to Houston last Sunday was the club's fifth in seven games, not ideal for a team sailing into the playoffs.
"In the last game, we didn't play well," said midfielder Juan Toja. "We played hard and in my mind and all of the players, it's hard because we have lost our confidence and have to find that. This is a great opportunity to do this against Columbus. We want to win and clinch a playoff spot."
FCD did deliver a better performance against the Revs on Wednesday but a couple of soft goals cost them a second Open Cup title in a 3-2 loss.
"Overall, it was a great performance (on Wednesday)," Serioux said. "The effort was there, the heart was there but unfortunately, we kind of put ourselves in holes in certain situations and to try to crawl our way out of it is difficult. If we can limit our mistakes and hopefully capitalize on their mistakes, we can get the luck rolling our way, then we should be a team to reckon with right now."
Besides FCD losing their second Open Cup final in three years on Wednesday, the other big storyline was the absence of Hoops designated player Denilson from Morrow's game roster. The FCD boss reinforced after the game that the World Cup-winning Brazilian midfielder was still part of his plans for this season. On Friday, he was training with the first team and could return to the field in Columbus as a starter.
"I picked the team the other night that I thought could win the Open Cup," Morrow said. "We were limited to five foreigners and I picked the five best who I thought could win it. He's the same as everybody else on the roster and has to fight for a spot like everyone else. I want a settled team going into the last couple games of the season. It's frustrating that we haven't been able to get that because of injuries and suspensions."
Wednesday's loss also saw the return of FCD striker Kenny Cooper, who saw his first action since breaking his right tibia on June 9, a span of 18 total matches. The Dallas native isn't yet ready to start but should see more minutes on Saturday as a second-half substitute.
"He played 20 minutes the other night and we want to build that up as much as we can," Morrow said. "We want to get Kenny into the position where he's fighting for a starting spot for the last couple games too. He's getting closer to that. We want to do the right thing by him as well. We will try to get him some more minutes tomorrow and look to get him more in starting condition for Thursday against Chivas."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
