FC Dallas' convincing 2-0 win against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Sunday afternoon was a testament to the squad's depth and its emphasis on collective team effort.
Despite missing two key playmakers in Juan Toja and Pablo Ricchetti due to injury, FCD was able to jump out to an early lead and hold it the rest of the way on the backs of a strong defense and a solid performance by goalkeeper Dario Sala.
Kenny Cooper scored the game-winning goal only five minutes into the match and Abe Thompson added a late insurance goal to keep FCD undefeated on the young season, the only team left without a loss in MLS.
"To put on the performance we did without two of our big players, I give credit to our guys," said FCD coach Steve Morrow. "It was a real team effort. We created great opportunities and defended well when we had to so I'm pleased."
Chivas USA also was without the services of two key players in Francisco Mendoza and Sacha Kljestan, both serving one-match suspensions after picking up red cards in their last match. However, unlike FCD, the home side struggled with the losses of the two midfielders.
Cooper's goal -- his fourth of the season -- came after Dax McCarty sent a long ball into the Chivas USA area from the right flank. The ball was headed downward by Ricardinho towards Cooper who slammed it into the back of the net.
"Ricardinho has so much ability," said Cooper. "He played a great ball across the goal. I've been fortunate all season long to get on the other side of some great services from my teammates."
The match was the first in which Ricardinho started this season.
"We knew depth was going to be important in the start of the season," said Morrow. "We have a very deep roster with good young players and so we try to play the same way no matter who's on the field. Some guys stepped up tonight and took their opportunity very well. We've got great competition throughout the team."
The win came three weeks after FCD's first meeting with Chivas USA. In that contest, Chivas USA stole a goal late in the game to hold FCD to a 1-1 tie in Dallas.
"It's really encouraging coming in here and getting a better result than our last match against them at home," said Cooper. "The team tonight showed how deep we are. It was a great overall team performance and hopefully we can continue. The team has been playing very well so far and I have a lot of confidence in every guy on the squad. Everyone has played a huge part this year."
With the win, FCD remains the last unbeaten team in the league. And, with Cooper's goal, FCD still has never lost a game in which he has scored, an 18-match streak spanning three seasons.
"I'm not big into stats but Kenny's been doing great," said Morrow. "He's capable of scoring a goal a game if he puts his mind to it."
Cooper also does not read too much into that stat. "I think it's just a coincidence," he said.
When asked if the game was FCD's best performance of the season so far, Morrow said, "Yes, I've seen things start to come together a little bit more. It's still early in the season and there's room for improvement. We can get better."
Danny Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
