Prior to Saturday night's match with Real Salt Lake, a players-only meeting was held in the FC Dallas locker room. Besides the obvious subject of winning that evening's game and clinching a playoff spot, another subject brought up by FCD veterans was the fact that whether they win MLS Cup or not, the team will be different next season.
The Hoops have a fairly unique opportunity to host MLS Cup since it will be held in their home stadium, Pizza Hut Park, on Nov. 12. By beating RSL 2-1 on Saturday, they clinched a playoff spot and home-field advantage in the first round. With a win in any of their last three games, they secure home-field for the Western Conference Championship.
But first and foremost was the knowledge that the current group of FC Dallas players has one chance, and one chance only, to earn glory.
"It's a fact of any league whether it be football, basketball, baseball or soccer," said midfielder Richard Mulrooney. "Every year, salary cap issues come up and players play up to their potential or don't play up to their potential. On and off the field, switches can be made and we realize that. This group has come a long way but to come away at the end of the season with nothing to show for it would be disheartening."
Hoops defender Bobby Rhine, in his eighth season with FCD, agreed.
"The truth is that the group we have in our locker room right now will not all be the same next year," he said. "We know that and know that every year. We realize that we have such a good situation this year with finding ourselves in first with the opportunity to clinch home-field advantage."
Defender Greg Vanney, also in his eighth MLS season, wants to make the most of the opportunity in front of the club.
"I've been in the league for eight years and have played in three MLS Cup Finals, one French Cup final and don't have anything but a U.S. Open Cup and a CONCACAF Champions' Cup title to show for it," he said. "Before you know it, you're looking back on your career and wishing that you made more of those opportunities. It's not often that you get a team as gifted as our team. All of us are fortunate to be on a team together and on a team with enough talent to win a championship."
FCD head coach Colin Clarke echoed his players' sentiments.
"We know we have a great opportunity with the (MLS Cup) final at home," Clarke said. "We've won home-field advantage for the first round and are looking to win it for the next round. That's important and is a little extra special since the final is here at Pizza Hut Park and we want to be part of that."
Mulrooney won two MLS Cups while in San Jose in 2001 and 2003, when he scored his side's game-winning goal in the 50th minute, but he especially wants to win one with FCD.
"It's a home-field advantage for sure if you can make it," he said. "It's a home game for us since we're hosting. As you look at records throughout the MLS season, home teams have more wins. I think that translates over into MLS Cup as well."
Rhine concurred. "We also have the opportunity to play in front of our home fans for MLS Cup," he said. "With that scenario given this group of players, that's not going to happen again. We know as players and as professionals that we need to make the most out of those opportunities."
FCD has three regular season games remaining before the start of the playoffs. They travel to face Columbus, a team that surprisingly defeated them in Frisco 2-1 on June 4. That loss was one of only three that the Hoops have had at home this season.
After that, they host the Galaxy on Oct. 7. The sides meet again one week later in Carson, Calif., to close out the regular season.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
