FC Dallas exploded for an MLS-record four goals in the first 19 minutes Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park, easing to a 4-0 victory against the New England Revolution and making a statement in defense of their holding the league's best record.
Kenny Cooper opened the floodgates in the fourth minute, then Carlos Ruiz scored twice in short order before Ramon Nunez capped off the early storm with a 19th-minute goal that effectively put the match away.
The victory put a sudden end to the Revolution's two-match winning streak, where they had scored seven goals and allowed just one. It also extended the Hoops' lead in the Western Conference to five points ahead of Houston Dynamo.
As the crowd was still settling into their seats in the fourth minute, Chris Gbandi made a strong run up the left sideline, playing a give-and-go with Nunez. The deft passing freed him up to send in a well-placed cross for Cooper, who snuck his head in front of Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis to knock the ball home.
Then as the Pizza Hut Park crowd was barely settling down, Simo Valakari stepped in to knock away a pass in midfield that went to Ruiz in a seemingly harmless position. But Ruiz quickly spun and hit a shot from 40 yards out that curled into the left side of the goal to beat the stunned Revs 'keeper, who made no effort to save the shot.
The Hoops were in no mood to let the Revolution off the hook, as they seemed to pick up the pace with a two-goal lead.
Richard Mulrooney played a hanging cross in the 16th minute to find Drew Moor at the far post, who headed the ball back into the goalmouth. It was about to fall in front of Reis and James Riley, but Gbandi tried to challenge for the ball, which meant Reis could only punch it out. Ruiz quickly pounced on it to send in his second goal of the match.
Ruiz then found himself on the service end in the 19th minute, taking an angled ball from Mulrooney near the left corner flag, then sending in a pinpoint pass to the feet of Nunez, who scored from close to the penalty spot to give the Hoops an insurmountable four-goal lead.
Following the halftime break, Dario Sala was taken off Jeff Cassar after coming up with a right groin strain. Cassar also nearly had to be substituted for in the 63rd minute, coming up hobbling after clearing the ball out of the box.
With no other 'keeper on the bench the Hoops faithful were worried, but it didn't last long as Cassar made it through the rest of the match though at times he appeared to be laboring.
Minus a few scares, the Hoops maintained control of the match in the second half. Taylor Twellman could have had two goals early in the second half but the Dallas offside trap twice thwarted his chances, once in the 48th minute, then again in the 53rd, when he put balls home sent in by veteran setup man Steve Ralston.
FC Dallas had a couple of late opportunities to add to their lead -- one falling to O'Brien and one to Nunez -- but they couldn't add to the margin of victory, the heaviest inflicted on the Revolution in nearly five seasons, since a 2001 loss to San Jose.
Scott Joiner is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
