DALLAS - FC Dallas will put their Western Conference-best away record on the line Saturday night when they clash with the Colorado Rapids in Denver.
In fact, the Hoops are off to their best start in club's history in three categories: at the Cotton Bowl, away from home and overall - and they've now nearly survived the grueling early portion of the schedule with the much-anticipated opening of Pizza Hut Park slated for August 6.
"We're getting to that stretch where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The boys have put us in the position we are in and we are pretty happy," said FCD coach Colin Clarke.
But what's currently in the path for FCD are the resurging Rapids. Colorado is riding back-to-back wins for the first time this season, doing the "L.A. double" in victories against the Los Angeles Galaxy (1-0) at home and at Chivas USA (3-1).
"Colorado is playing stingy soccer right now; to beat them in their place is going to be a tough task," said center back Greg Vanney.
The Black-and-Blue have taken a while to gel but they are finally starting to put together some quality results. In addition, the Hoops expect they'll be in for a physical test.
"It's [Colorado] is a tough place to go, the altitude and they have done very well at home," said Clarke. "Having played Chivas and turning around to play Colorado, it's going to be tough traveling again on the road."
The quick trip to the Mile High City follows back-to-back home games - a first for FC Dallas this season - when they also did the L.A. double, against the Galaxy last Saturday (1-0) and a late victory against Chivas USA (2-1) on Wednesday. After returning for a game against San Jose, it's a tough road heading into the All-Star break with three games on the road, including two against top Eastern Conference teams, leaders New England Revolution (July 16) and the third-place MetroStars (July 27).
But what does the road mean to a club who has played the most away games in MLS this season? Not much if they are winning like FCD.
"I like the next couple of weeks we are looking at. We should take advantage of that and get ourselves ready for the second half of the season," Vanney said. "If we can get the results at home that we are getting on the road then it will be an exciting season for FC Dallas."
But what's ahead for the moment is focusing on controlling Jeff Cunningham - who has four goals in his last two games and leads MLS in scoring - and getting past Joe Cannon and Pablo Mastroeni.
"Cannon is a very good 'keeper. He was the 'keeper of the year last year and is having another good year this year," said the FCD manager. "Pablo is one of those players every team needs - a central midfielder that's very good at stopping every key play and reading things and breaking them up. Very competitive, he's a winner, a national team player."
Said Vanney: "I think that Colorado has good players, speed, quickness and skill. They run at you - they bring a different dimension than some of the other forwards in the league."
Ron Goode is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
