HOOPS LOOKING TO GO STREAKING:
Dating back to a 2-1 win over Columbus at Pizza Hut Park on October 5, 2005, FC Dallas is now undefeated in its last five regular season games. That mark leaves the Hoops just one game away from tying the team-record of six straight matches without a loss, a record that has been set twice. In 1999 Dallas closed the season with five straight wins before then winning its 2000 season opener for a sixth straight victory. That mark was matched a year ago when, following a pair of road draws against Kansas City and San Jose, the Hoops went on to win four straight for the second six match unbeaten run in team history.
Pizza Hut Park also has a streak of its own, with the team also now in the midst of a seven-match home undefeated streak in regular season play. The current record for consecutive home games without a loss is eight, which was accomplished twice: from April 6-July 13, 2003 and from October 16, 2004 to August 6, 2005.
COOPER MAKES IT TWO FOR TWO: In Saturday night's 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper became the first player in Dallas history to score in each of his first two games with the club. His goal, which was later selected as one of five finalists for Sierra Mist Goal of the Week, tied the game at 1-1 late in the first half and set the stage for a second straight come-from-behind win for the Hoops.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last player before Cooper to register goals in each of his first two MLS games was current FCD forward Carlos 'Fish' Ruiz, who would go on to score in each of his first four games with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2002. That year, Ruiz would go on to lead MLS with 24 goals while also winning the Honda MLS MVP Award and then scoring the game-winning goal in MLS Cup.
Alex Pineda-Chacon was the only other player to begin his MLS career with a similar streak, scoring goals in his first four games with the Miami Fusion in 2001.
HAMSTRING WOE FOR FCD DUO: FC Dallas was given a double blast of bad news on Monday when it was determined that forward Carlos Ruiz and defender Alex Yi would each be sidelined for the next 2-3 weeks with hamstring injuries. Both injures were suffered over the weekend with Ruiz picking up his late in Saturday's win over Real Salt Lake. As a result, Ruiz will not be available for the team's first road trip of the year this weekend to Colorado. He will be re-evaluated next week to determine his availability for the Hoops' following game against Kansas City on Sunday, April 23.
Yi's injury came less than 24 hours later on Sunday morning in a Reserve Division game as he limped off after 25 minutes and was replaced by Miguel Guante.
WILSON GETS OFF THE MARK: With his game-winning goal in the 57th minute of Saturday's win over Real Salt Lake, Mark Wilson became the 62nd player in team history to tally a goal for FC Dallas. Wilson, who started the game in central midfield for the Hoops, was playing in just his 10th match with the club and scored with his fourth career shot on goal. Entering the 2006 season, 60 different players had scored for Dallas with Cooper and now Wilson adding themselves to that list through the first two games of the year.
Of the 25 field player on the current FC Dallas roster, 11 have never scored for the first team, though seven of those 11 have yet to play on the first team.
RESERVES DROP DEBUT: The FC Dallas Reserves dropped their season opener on Sunday morning falling 1-0 to the Real Salt Lake Reserves on the adidas Field at Pizza Hut Park. Last year the FCD Reserves split their two matches with the RSL Reserves, winning in Salt Lake and losing at home, en route to a second place Reserve Division finish.
RASCAL FLATTS ADDED TO CONCERT LINEUP: Last Friday the third act was added the to 2006 Pizza Hut Park concert lineup as multi-platinum selling recording artist Rascal Flatts announce that they will bring their "Me and My Gang Tour" to Pizza Hut Park on Friday, June 16. Previously, it was announced that international pop-group RBD would perform on April 29 and country-music legend George Strait on May 26. Tickets for the Rascal Flatts show go on sale on April 15 at 10:00. RBD and George Straight are currently on sale. For tickets to all shows, please visit any TicketMaster outlet, call (972) 647-5700 or (214) 373-8000 or go to www.ticketmaster.com.
TIGRES' FINAL CHARGE: Tigres UANL, the Mexican First Division partner club of FC Dallas, could see its dreams of advancing in the Copa Libertadores, as well as its hope of ensuring a spot in the Clausura playoffs receive a significant boost on this week with a pair of important games. On Tuesday Tigres travels to Colombia to face off against Deportivo Cali in their next-to-last match in Libertadores group play. A win over last place Deportivo would put Tigres one point behind the top two teams in Group 4 with one match left. If Tigres could then win at home against Universidad Catolica of Chile, it would advance to the final 16 of the tournament.
In league play, Tigres currently sits on 17 points from 14 games with three left to play. The eighth and final playoff spot is currently held by Atlante with 18 points, one ahead of Tigres and the six other teams who are tied with 17. On Saturday, Tigres will host Chiapas before closing the season with a road game against Pumas and a crucial home match against Atlante.
TRAINING SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, April 12: 10:00 a.m. at Pizza Hut Park - adidas Field #1
Thursday, April 13: 10:00 a.m. at Pizza Hut Park - adidas Field #1
Friday, April 14: 10:00 a.m. at Pizza Hut Park - adidas Field #1
Team departs for Colorado at 2:13 p.m.<br><strong>Saturday, April 15:</strong> GAME - FC Dallas (2-0-0, 6 pts) at Colorado Rapids (1-1-0, 3 pts)
8:00 p.m. live on KTXA Channel 21.
Sunday, April 16: TRAVEL DAY
- Practice schedule is subject to change. All times Central.
