Prepping for the 4th

FC Dallas went through a 90-minute practice session in preparation for this weekend's 4th of July match against the visiting New York Red Bulls (8 p.m. CT). As a warm-up, the field players weaved through cones and over small hurdles while the goalkeepers practiced reflex saves and footwork.

The team then spent some time in a crossing / finishing drill before ending with a 9 v 9 scrimmage with Ray Burse in one goal, and Dario Sala and Josh Lambo taking turns in the other. For about 15 minutes following training, Blake Wagner and Jeff Cunningham practiced finishing crosses from Michael Dello-Russo.

Misc. Notes:

• Adam Hinshelwood, a 25-year-old English trialist, has joined the team for training and will be in for the remainder of the week. He has been with Brighton (England's League One) since 2000 and can play center back and right back.
• Alvaro "Tom" Sanchez jogged outside for the first time since suffering a right ankle injury against San Jose on June 7.
• Daniel Torres, Steve Purdy, and Marcelo Saragosa worked on running, volleying, and doing agility drills to recover from injuries suffered. The team will meet again on the practice field Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

Vote for Ferreira and Burse

David Ferreira's clever lob over Colorado keeper Matt Pickens last Wednesday has earned an MLS Goal of the Week nomination. Visit here to see a replay of the goal and vote for David! The voting closes on Wednesday at 1 p.m. CT -- let's make sure the award goes to an FCD player for the second straight week!



On the opposite end of the field, goalkeeper Ray Burse has been nominated for Save of the Week after diving to his left to stop a driven shot from Colorado's Nick LaBrocca in the same game. It's the second week in a row that Burse has been nominated for the award. You can check out a replay of the save and vote for Ray here. Voting for Save of the Week closes at 1 p.m. CT on Thursday.


Photos: Rick Yeatts / FC Dallas

FCD Juniors U-16 Headed to Finals Week

From June 26-29, 64 teams (32 U-16 / 32 U-18) battled it out in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs with a trip to the national finals at stake. After posting a perfect 3-0 record in the playoffs, the FC Dallas Juniors U-16 squad will be one of only 16 teams (8 in each age group) to head to Carson, CA for Finals Week from July 10-17. 

The U-16s today defeated South Charlotte 4-1 with scoring from Ruben Luna (2), Bryan Leyva and Daniel Garcia, to punch their ticket to California. In the finals, each age group will be split into two brackets of four, with the winners of each bracket facing off in the championship game. Read more about Finals Week here.

The U-18s closed out their playoff run this morning with a 2-2 draw with Derby County Wolves. Dallas goals were scored by Bradlee Baladez and Jose Perez. While the U-18s did not make the finals, we'd like to congratulate the boys on a great first season in the national academy league!

Quick Practice

After the weekend off, the guys returned to practice this morning but during warm ups the skies opened up and it started pouring. Due to lightning, the team went inside to continue their individual workouts in the gym. The team will be back at practice tomorrow at 9:30 a.m on the adidas field. The rest of the week's schedule is posted on the right.

Juniors Playoff Update

On day two of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs, the FCD Juniors U-16s picked up their second win, defeating Andromeda 2-0, with scoring from Jacob Gerondale and Jonathan Top. The team will have Sunday off before playing their final game on Monday against South Charlotte, where a win would assure the team of advancing to the finals.

Unfortunately, the U-18s fell to the Santa Cruz County Breakers 5-2. Dallas goals came from Bradlee Baladez and London Woodberry.  At 0-1-1 in the tournament, the U-18 team cannot advance, even with a win in their final game. Like the U-16s, they'll have Sunday off and will then face the Derby County Wolves Monday morning.

With a day off on Sunday, you can bet the Juniors teams will be watching the U.S. vs. Brazil Confederations Cup Final (1 p.m. CT live on ESPN and Univision) somewhere in Greensboro, NC. Here in Dallas, we've heard that many FCD fans will be heading to Trinity Hall to catch the big game. The Irish pub is not only a great place catch FC Dallas in action when the team is on the road, but it's also the place in town to watch the USMNT. Where will you be watching?

Juniors Start Playoffs With Good Results

The FCD Juniors teams kicked off day one of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs with positive results earlier today. The U-16s defeated Birmingham United 3-1 behind goals from Bryan Leyva, Ruben Luna and an own goal from their opponent. The U-18s and the Dallas Texans played to a scoreless draw.

On Saturday afternoon, the U-16s will square off against Andromeda, who fell today to South Charlotte by the score of 4-1. The U-18s will also be in action on Saturday, facing the Santa Cruz County Breakers in the morning. Santa Cruz lost to Derby County Wolves today, also by the score of 4-1. Track the U-16s results here, and follow the U-18s here.

Feeling the Heat

The team’s first practice since their 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids was a brief one thanks to temperatures that were pushing 100 degrees.

After warming up, the official portion of practice consisted of about 45 minutes worth of conditioning including a closing 20 minute jog around the complex. Following the jog, several players stuck around to play a mini-scrimmage which saw the team of Andre Rocha, Anthony Wallace, Jeff Cunningham, Bruno Guarda, and assistant coach Marco Ferruzzi come out victorious.

For the first time in what seems like forever, the team was nearly at full-strength with almost everyone participating in at least a portion of the practice. The lone exceptions were Alvaro Sanchez (ankle) and Peri Marosevic who is still with the U.S. U-20 national team.

Vote Kenny for an ESPY

The 2009 ESPY nominations are out today and included on the list for Best MLS Player is FC Dallas' own Kenny Coooper. The category includes past winner Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Juan Pablo Angel (NY Red Bulls), Jon Busch (Chicago Fire) and Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew). The winner will be determined by fan votes online at ESPYS.tv through July 11. Make sure to vote for Kenny!

Juniors Head to NC for Playoffs

While the first team returned to the Metroplex this afternoon following last night’s 1-1 draw with the Rapids in Colorado, the FCD Juniors are heading east for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs in Greensboro, NC from June 26-29. It’s a group play format, with each age group divided into eight groups of four. The top team from each group will advance to the finals to be held in Carson, CA from July 10-17. Both the U-16 and U-18 teams’ schedules are outlined below (all times central). All games are played at the Bryan Park Soccer Complex in Greensboro.

FCD U-16 Schedule:
Fri. June 26 – Birmingham United (11 a.m.)
Sat. June 27 – Andromeda (5 p.m.)
Mon. June 29 – South Charlotte SA (9 a.m.)
Full U-16 schedule / results

FCD U-18 Schedule:
Fri. June 26 – Dallas Texans (9 a.m.)
Sat. June 27 – Santa Cruz County Breakers (9 a.m.)
Mon. June 29 – Derby County Wolves (7 a.m.)
Full U-18 schedule / results

Eric Avila Wins Goal of the Week

Photo Credit: Rick Yeatts / FC Dallas

Eric Avila's bending right-footed shot from 25 yards out in last Saturday's 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew was voted MLS Goal of the Week through online voting. Thanks to all the fans who voted for Eric's first career MLS goal, we are sure it will be a memorable one for him.

Cooper Named to Gold Cup Roster

Kenny Cooper has been named to the 23-man U.S. National Team roster to compete in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup from July 3-26. He'll join the team for training in Seattle on June 30 ahead of the United States' first match on July 4 vs. Grenada at Qwest Field. Cooper has two goals in four caps for the National Team, his last goal coming in the Nov. 19 win over Guatemala in World Cup Qualifying. At the halfway point of the FC Dallas season, Kenny has seven goals (tied for third) and one assist. The U.S. schedule is outlined below, with all games airing on Fox Soccer Channel and TeleFutura. Check ussoccer.com for more info on the Gold Cup tournament and roster.

U.S. Men’s 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup Schedule – Group B
July 4 vs. Grenada at 6 p.m. PT (Qwest Field; Seattle, Wash.)
July 8 vs. Honduras at 9 p.m. ET (RFK Stadium; Washington, D.C.)
July 11 vs. Haiti at 7 p.m. ET (Gillette Stadium; Foxborough, Mass)

FCD 1, Colorado Rapids 1

Dallas held a 1-0 halftime lead over the Colorado Rapids courtesy of a 37th minute goal from David Ferreira, but the Rapids were persistent in their attack and finally pulled level in the 83rd minute. It was Omar Cummings who salvaged the point for the Rapids, turning on Anthony Wallace at the top of the box and slotting a shot one past Ray Burse. A full recap of the game is available at FCDallas.com.

FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman on the game: “I thought we scored a good goal in the first half and we were able to hold on for quite a while. Obviously, Colorado is a very quick team. They’re very technical, they work awfully hard and they put us under a tremendous amount of pressure. Give Colorado a lot of credit for fighting all the way down to the end.”

Game Notes:
• FC Dallas (3-7-5, 14 pts.) and the Colorado Rapids (5-2-6, 21 pts.) played to a 1-1 draw tonight at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Dallas is now 1-4-2 on the road this season.
• It was the second game in five days for FCD after defeating the Columbus Crew at home on Saturday, June 20.
• FCD is now unbeaten in six out of the last seven games.
• Dallas is 23-16-8 all-time versus the Rapids and 7-11-5 in Colorado. Additionally, the team is 1-1-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the Rapids home since 2007.
• Midfielder David Ferreira gave FCD a halftime lead after scoring in the 37th minute, his second goal of the season.
• Kenny Cooper assisted on the play. It was his first of the year to go with his team-leading seven goals. Cooper has now recorded either a goal or an assist in four of the last five matches.
• Jeff Cunningham was credited with a secondary assist after starting the scoring play with his pass to Cooper. It was Cunningham’s second assist of the season.
• For the third straight game second-year forward/midfielder Brek Shea entered the match at halftime, tonight replacing Cunningham.
• Eric Avila was the only other substitute used tonight, entering the match in the 71st minute for Andre Rocha.
• This was the first of three matches against Colorado this season. FCD returns to DSG Park on July 11 and will close out the series at Pizza Hut Park on October 17.
• Dallas has now scored 79 goals against the Rapids in 47 regular season meetings. This is the most the team has scored against a single opponent in its 14-year history.
• Cooper tonight extended his league record of consecutive starts by a forward to 47, dating back to the 2007 season.
• Jeff Cunningham started tonight's match on the right side of midfield. It was his 302nd career regular season appearance, surpassing New England’s Jay Heaps for sole possession of ninth on the all-time MLS list. It was also Cunningham’s 201st career start.
• Four FCD players have now started all 15 regular season games: Cooper, Ferreira, Dave van den Bergh and Drew Moor. Ferreira and Moor have played every minute of the season so far.
• Rookie forward Peri Marosevic missed tonight’s game while with the U.S. Under-20 National Team for a camp in Cairo, where the team will play two friendlies against Egypt on June 27 and 29. Marosevic is expected to return to Dallas on June 30.
• Five Dallas players sat out the game with injuries: goalkeeper Dario Sala (left knee), midfielder Alvaro Sanchez (right ankle), and defenders Steve Purdy (right knee), Daniel Torres (right hamstring) and midfielder Marcelo Saragosa (right hip).
• Dallas will have 10 days to prepare for its next match, a Fourth of July contest against the New York Red Bulls at Pizza Hut Park (8 p.m. CT live on KFWD-52). The largest fireworks show in the Metroplex will take place immediately after the game, followed by a live performance from local band Lone Star Attitude.

Preview: FCD at Colorado Rapids

FC Dallas (3-7-4, 13 pts) is in Denver for tonight's game against Western Conference rival, the Colorado Rapids (5-2-5, 20 pts). The game kicks off at 8:30 p.m. CT and remember, this one will only be televised on the MLS Direct Kick package for those of you back home in Dallas. If you don't have that package, consider heading down to Trinity Hall Irish Pub and Restaurant for tonight's away game watching party, where you can cheer on the team with fellow FCD fans.

Dallas is coming off a big come-from-behind victory over the Columbus Crew Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park and are unbeaten in five out of the last six matches. The Rapids also played on Saturday, dismantling visiting DC United 3-0 to extend their unbeaten run to seven straight games. FCD will be without Marcelo Saragosa after suffering a right hip injury in practice this week. Colorado will be missing the league's second-leading scorer Conor Casey (U.S. - Confederations Cup), who has eight goals this year, one more than Kenny Cooper. Check out comments from Schellas Hyndman and Eric Avila on tonight's game below. Then, click here to read the online preview and download the full game notes package.


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Vote Burse for Save of the Week

Ray Burse's reflex save to stop a Chad Marshall volley from point-blank range Saturday night has earned the fourth-year 'keeper an MLS Save of the Week nomination! Click here to watch the save again and vote for Ray before the poll closes at 1 p.m. CT on Thursday.

After voting for Ray, make sure to vote Eric Avila for MLS Goal of the week. Avila is currently is the leading vote-getter, but let's give it an extra push to make sure he wins this thing. Goal of the week voting closes Wednesday at 1 p.m. CT.

Off to Denver

FC Dallas this morning held their last practice at Pizza Hut Park before jetting off to Denver for tomorrow night's game against the Colorado Rapids. After warming up, the team went through a possession drill before going through their usual light pre-game scrimmage for about 30 minutes. In all, today's practice lasted about an hour total. The team will board a bus for the airport at noon to catch the flight to Denver this afternoon.

Int'l Friendly: FCD vs. CSD Comunicaciones

FC Dallas is set to host CSD Comunicaciones (Guatemala) in an international friendly at Pizza Hut Park on Wednesday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m. Comunicaciones is one of the most successful clubs in Guatemala, winning 22 league titles throughout its history with the most recent coming in the 2008 Apertura season. For FCD full season plan holders, the game is included as Bonus Game B. Tickets for the general public will be available at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23 (tomorrow) at FCDallas.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com. The game will be available via free live webstream on FCDallas.com. An official press release will be distributed this afternoon.

Watching Party Wednesday Night

It's a quick turnaround for FC Dallas this week, traveling to Colorado to face the Rapids in a mid-week meeting only five days after defeating the Columbus Crew at home. Unfortunately, Wednesday night's game in Colorado (8:30 p.m. CT) will only be televised locally on the MLS Direct Kick satellite / cable package, but FCD fans can get together to cheer on the team at Trinity Hall Irish Pub and Restaurant (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane in Dallas), which has held FCD away game watching parties all season long. While there, fans can also participate in raffles and enter for a chance to win a trip for two to Seattle when FCD faces the Sounders FC in the regular season finale on October 24!

Vote for Eric Avila! / Today's Notes

Photo: Rick Yeatts / FC Dallas

Imagine the feeling a player might get after scoring his first-ever professional goal. Add in the fact that the bending right-footed blast from outside the box tied the game up against the Columbus Crew, paving the way for an FC Dallas come-from-behind victory Saturday night. Then, add in the fact that the impressive strike has been nominated for MLS Goal of the Week. That should give you an idea of what second-year midfielder Eric Avila must be feeling right about now. Click here to watch the goal again and vote for Avila! Continue reading for a recap of Monday's practice session....

Those that played the majority of Saturday night's game participated in a recovery session this morning before wrapping up with a friendly game of soccer tennis. On the other hand, the rest of the team went through a full 90-minute practice, which included lots of quick passing, control, and finishing exercises, ending right at 11 a.m. One player missing from this morning's session was rookie Peri Marosevic. Peri has joined the U.S. U-20 team in Cairo, Egypt as the Americans continue to prep for September's FIFA U-20 World Cup, also in Egypt. The young forward will return to Dallas on June 30.

FCD 2, Columbus Crew 1

UPDATE (Post-game): After being pushed up against the wall by the defending MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew at Pizza Hut Park, FC Dallas bounced back to pick up a come-from-behind 2-1 victory. The team found themselves trailing 1-0 at the half after a Pablo Ricchetti own goal in the 17th minute. The ball came off his chest and into the goal after a corner from Guillermo Barros Schelotto that Crew defender Eric Brunner had put a head to. Dallas missed out on several chances of its own, but second-half substitute Eric Avila finally grabbed the equalizer in the 80th minute when he took a pass from David Ferreira and curled in a right-footed shot from about 25 yards. Seven minutes later, Ferreira was taken down inside the box by Crew defender Chad Marshall and Kenny Cooper stepped up and calmly converted the PK to give FCD the win.

Game notes:
• FC Dallas improves to 3-7-4 (13 pts.) with a come-from-behind win over the visiting Columbus Crew (4-3-7, 19 pts.). Dallas is now 2-3-3 at Pizza Hut Park this season.
• The win snaps a two-game losing streak against Columbus. The team now has an 11-5-1 all-time record against the Crew at home, and a 15-14-6 record overall.
• It was the first victory for Dallas this season when conceding the first goal of the game. FCD is now 1-4-3 when its opponent scores first.
• In defeating Columbus, FC Dallas puts an end to the Crew’s nine-game unbeaten streak.
• Eric Avila, who entered the game in the 76th minute, notched the game-tying goal four minutes later with a bending right-footed shot from 25 yards. It was his first career MLS goal.
• David Ferreira provided the assist on Avila’s goal, his second of the year.
• Kenny Cooper notched the game-winner, a penalty kick in the 87th minute. Cooper now has seven PK’s in his career, tying him with Jorge “Zarco” Rodriguez for most in club history.
• It was Ferreira who set up the spot kick, drawing a foul from Crew defender Chad Marshall.
• Cooper tonight extended his league record of consecutive starts by a forward to 46, dating back to the 2007 season.
• Jeff Cunningham entered the match as a second-half substitute. It was his 301st career regular season appearance, tying New England’s Jay Heaps for ninth on the all-time MLS list.
• Four Dallas players have now started all 14 regular season games: Kenny Cooper, Dave van den Bergh, David Ferreira and Drew Moor. Moor and Ferreira have played every minute this year.
• Five FCD players missed tonight’s game with injuries: goalkeeper Dario Sala (left knee), midfielder Alvaro Sanchez (right ankle), and defenders Steve Purdy (right knee), Daniel Torres (right hamstring), and George John (right hamstring).
• Tonight’s match concluded a three-game home stand for FCD. The team will next visit the Colorado Rapids for a mid-week game on Wednesday, June 24 (8:30 p.m. CT on MLS Direct Kick).

Preview: FCD vs. Columbus Crew

FC Dallas (2-7-4, 10 pts) hosts the Columbus Crew (4-2-7, 19 pts) Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. CT live on Fox Soccer Channel (pre-game begins at 7 p.m.). FCD saw a four-game unbeaten run come to an end last week after a loss to the Houston Dynamo, while the Crew are currently riding a nine-game undefeated streak, winning four of their last six. Schellas Hyndman, Drew Moor and Kenny Cooper offer their thoughts on facing the Crew and MLS leading scorer Guillermo Barros Schelotto (10 goals) below. For a more in-depth look at Saturday's match-up, head over to FCDallas.com to read the online game preview and download the complete game guide.


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In the Stadium

FC Dallas took the PHP stadium field this morning for its final practice before Saturday's home match-up against reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew (live 7:30 p.m. CT on Fox Soccer Channel). After warming up, the team went through a 30 minute 11 v 11 walkthrough, and ended with a crossing and finishing exercise. Rookie defender George John was a notable participant in today's session. It was the first time we've seen him in full training in several weeks. Dario Sala also stepped in goal for that final finishing drill, and many of his teammates welcomed him back by all firing shots at the same time, making Dario take cover.

"Tickets for Troops" on the 4th of July

For the second straight year, FC Dallas is inviting all area active duty, reserve and veteran military personnel to the Fourth of July game and celebration free of charge. The program is called "Tickets for Troops" and FCD has already received many generous ticket donations from its partners including Pizza Hut, Texans Credit Union, Yellowtail Wine, and more.

This year's Fourth of July event will see FCD take on the New York Red Bulls at 8 p.m. CT, followed by the largest fireworks show in the Metroplex, and then capped off with a live performance from local band Lone Star Attitude. Click here to read the full press release and to find out how you can make a donation.

Recap: Dallas Soccer Tribute Match

A video recap of the Saturday, June 13 Dallas Soccer Tribute Match featuring interviews with Tatu (Dallas Sidekicks), Bobby Moffat (Dallas Tornado), Chad Deering (Dallas Burn), and honorary coaches Bob Sturm and Dan McDowell of The Ticket's BaD Radio. Enjoy.


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Returning Players

Today's session began with a 9 v 9 possession exercise that included participation from Dave van den Bergh, David Ferreira, Bruno Guarda and George John, who are all coming back from injury. Dave, David and Bruno would continue full participation for the remainder of practice, while George joined Dario Sala in rehab work off to the side. The team also worked on set pieces before finishing with a full-field 10 v 10 scrimmage. Friday morning's practice will be the team's final prep before hosting the Columbus Crew on Saturday at Pizza Hut Park. That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT, airing live on Fox Soccer Channel.

Wednesday on the Field

In Wednesday morning's practice, the team first began with a 9 v 9 possession drill while the goalkeepers went through an assortment of exercises with GK coach Drew Keeshan. For the majority of the session, the team came together and participated in some small-sided scrimmages on a field that was about half the length and width of the normal field. After the conclusion of practice, assistant coach Marco Ferruzzi worked on finishing with some of the guys.

Bruno Guarda, George John, Dave van den Bergh, David Ferreira and Dario Sala were all out on the practice field to work with the training staff. Bruno, George and Dave did a lot of ball work, while Ferreira focused more on fitness. Dario worked a bit with Keeshan, combining lateral movement with some shot-stopping.

Voluntary Workout

Tuesday was officially an off day for the team, but Schellas Hyndman informed the group that he would be willing to run some drills for anyone interested in getting an extra workout in. Participating in today's session were Kenny Cooper, Drew Moor, Jeff Cunningham, Brek Shea, Peri Marosevic, Michael Dello-Russo, Bruno Guarda and Josh Lambo. The workout lasted a little over an hour with the drills focusing mainly on crossing and finishing. The full squad will return to the practice field tomorrow at 9:30 am.

• It was Bruno's first extensive work with the ball since injuring his right ankle on May 23 against the LA Galaxy.
• Also in attendance today were league pool goalkeeper Bryant Rueckner and Scottish trialist Tom Parratt.
• Parratt is a 23-year-old right-sided player who most recently was a member of Hamilton Academical FC of the Scottish Premier League. He joined FCD for training on Monday and is expected to be here for the remainder of the week.
• Andre Rocha also came in today, running on Field 4 on his own for about 30 minutes.
  

Monday Recap

FC Dallas hit the field this morning at 9:30 a.m. for the first practice of the week in preparation for Saturday’s home game against reigning MLS Cup Champions the Columbus Crew. Dax McCarty, Drew Moor, Andre Rocha, Pablo Ricchetti, Kyle Davies, and Ray Burse, who all played 90 on Saturday night, went through a recovery session while Kenny Cooper practiced with the rest of the squad.

The majority of today's training was spent in a drill that emphasized sending passes to teammates through a series of target gates, and ending with a cross into box for a finish. Josh Lambo and league pool goalkeeper Bryant Rueckner ran through a variety of drills that tested their footwork and fitness, in addition to working on saving volley attempts. Off to the side, Bruno Guarda and George John worked on some light-ball work the training staff while Daniel Torres ran laps around the field.

Dave van den Bergh did not participate in today's practice after suffering a right ankle injury on Saturday night. David Ferreira also spent the morning inside the training room for some tightness in his right hamstring. Tuesday is officially the team's day off this week, but Schellas Hyndman will hold a voluntary session in the morning for those who want to get in some extra work. The team will regroup as a whole on Wednesday.

Juniors News and Misc. Notes

It was a busy weekend here at Pizza Hut Park with Saturday night's Dallas Soccer Tribute Match and the game vs. the Houston Dynamo, so allow us to catch you up on the FCD Juniors results in friendlies played Saturday afternoon against Houston. The U-18s defeated Houston 2-1 and the U-16 team tied 1-1. Additionally, the FCD Youth U-14s fell 3-1 to Houston. All three teams will play the Dynamo in friendlies again this Saturday down in Houston. The games are being used as a tuneup for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy League Playoffs, June 26-29 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Some miscellaneous notes:

• Official photos of Saturday night's game vs. Houston and the Dallas Soccer Tribute Match can be viewed at http://www.myfcdallas.com/. All photos courtesy of official team photographer, Rick Yeatts.
• Non-FCD related: the USMNT kicks off Confederations Cup action against Italy this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. CT in South Africa (live on ESPN and TeleFutura). The U.S. will next face Brazil on June 18 and Egypt on June 21.

FCD 1, Houston Dynamo 3

UPDATE (Post-game): With FC Dallas already down 2-0 at the half, Houston's Cam Weaver scored his second goal of the night in the 63rd minute, effectively putting the game out of reach. Drew Moor got one back for FCD five minutes later, but Dallas' attempt at a comeback fell short and the game ended 3-1. Weaver's first came 12 minutes into the match and former Dallas midfielder Richard Mulrooney added one in the 37th minute. The result snaps FCD's four-game unbeaten run, and it was the team's first home loss since March 29 vs. Chivas USA. A full recap is available at FCDallas.com.

Game Notes:

• Dallas is now 1-3-3 at Pizza Hut Park after suffering its first home defeat since March 29 versus Chivas USA.
• The loss snaps Dallas’ four-game unbeaten streak. The team had not lost since a 1-0 decision at Houston on May 9.
• FCD is now 1-7-5 all-time versus the Houston Dynamo and 1-2-3 against Houston at Pizza Hut Park.
• The result assures the Dynamo of winning the regular season series, meaning El Capitan, the cannon that serves as the trophy between the clubs, will head to Houston following the 2009 season. Dallas currently holds the cannon after winning the 2008 series.
• Drew Moor tonight scored his third goal of the year, heading in a feed from Eric Avila. It was the defender’s third goal of the season, a career high. It was also Moor’s third career goal against the Dynamo, matching his personal best against an opponent (LA Galaxy).
• It was the second assist of the year for Avila, matching his career high set during the 2008 season.
• Cunningham, now in his 12th MLS season, today made his 300th career regular season appearance. Only nine players in league history have appeared in more games than Cunningham. Additionally, it was the 200th start of his career.
• Kyle Davies made his MLS debut tonight, starting in central defense alongside team captain Pablo Ricchetti.
• Four Dallas players have now started all 13 regular season games: Kenny Cooper, Dave van den Bergh, David Ferreira and Drew Moor. Moor and Ferreira have played every minute this year.
• Cooper tonight extended his league record of consecutive starts by a forward to 45, dating back to the 2007 season.
• Van den Bergh left the match in the 79th minute with a right ankle injury. He was replaced by Marcelo Saragosa.
• Six Dallas players sat out tonight’s game due to injury: goalkeeper Dario Sala (left knee), midfielders Bruno Guarda (right ankle) and Alvaro Sanchez (right ankle), and defenders Steve Purdy (right knee), Daniel Torres (right hamstring), and George John (right hamstring).
• FC Dallas will remain at Pizza Hut Park for the last of its three-game home stand next Saturday, June 20 against defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew (7:30 p.m. CT live on Fox Soccer Channel).

Tribute Match: Dallas 2, Dallas 2

Photo: Rick Yeatts / FC Dallas

This afternoon's Dallas Soccer Tribute Match ended in a 2-2 draw. Chad Deering and Terry Woodberry gave the Red Team a 2-0 lead but Dev Reeves and Tatu (game-tying goal) each scored for the White Team to pull level. In case you're wondering, Tatu kept his shirt on! It was great to see the the camaraderie amongst the guys, who were clearly enjoying themselves despite the intense heat down on the field. We also observed lots of friendly interaction between fans and the players, and we know that all of those guys truly appreciated the kind words.

Preview: FCD vs. Houston Dynamo

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FC Dallas' (2-6-4, 10 pts) rivals from down south, the Houston Dynamo (7-2-3, 24 pts), visit Pizza Hut Park tomorrow for Fox Soccer Channel's game of the week, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. CT. It's the second meeting of the season, with the Dynamo claiming the first 1-0 at Robertson Stadium a little over a month ago. Dallas is coming off a 2-2 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes last Sunday and a 2-0 friendly win over CS Herediano Wednesday night. The Dynamo also played Wednesday night, defeating league-leading Chivas USA 1-0 in Houston.

The winner of the regular season series is awarded El Capitan, the cannon that serves as the official trophy of the Texas rivalry. Dallas must win the remaining two regular season games against Houston (June 13, August 6 - both at PHP) to assure itself of retaining the trophy. In the event of a tie in head-to-head and goal differential, the result of an MLS Cup Playoff game will be necessary to determine the winner. If there is no such meeting, Dallas (the previous winner), will retain the cannon. For more on Saturday's game, read the game preview at FCDallas.com and download the full game guide.

Dario in Miami this Weekend

Injured goalkeeper Dario Sala will head to Miami on Saturday night for two national media appearances on Sunday. First up, Dario will appear on Republica Deportiva, as part of a special live broadcast from the MLS Futbolito event in Miami (12 p.m. CT). In addition to talking about FC Dallas and the Futbolito event at PHP on Sept. 26, Dario will also serve as a guest referee of the celebrity 4v4 mini-game in Miami.

From there, he'll head straight to the TeleFutura studios to participate as a guest commentator during the live broadcast of the Columbus Crew vs. Chivas USA at 2 p.m. CT, before returning to Dallas in the evening. Sala has missed most of the season thus far due to a left knee injury, but we've seen the Argentine steadily progress his rehab work, and just this week he has begun to venture outside for agility work with the training staff.

Photo: Rick Yeatts / FC Dallas

Juniors vs. Houston on Saturday

As a precursor to the first-team game between Dallas and Houston Saturday night, the FCD Juniors U-18 and U-16 teams will host the Houston Dynamo Academy in friendlies on Saturday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park. The U-18 game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. on Field 9, and the U-16 game will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Field 11. Additionally, the clubs' U-14 teams will play each other at 1:30 on Field 10. The teams will meet again next weekend for a second round of friendlies down in Houston.

Kenny and Bobby on the Mic

Some highlights from Kenny Cooper's and Bobby Rhine's in-studio appearance on The Ticket's BaD Radio show on Tuesday...

Kenny and Bobby visit BaD Radio on 1310 AM the Ticket from FC Dallas on Vimeo.

Fast as Lightning

Quick outing for FC Dallas this morning. Before stepping on the training field the coaching staff went over some video with the team from 9:30-10 a.m. in the players' lounge. When the team got out on the field, they had enough time (about 40 minutes) to work through some passing drills while the starters from last night participated in a recovery session, before having to head back in due to lightning in the area. Once inside, the guys did some individual workouts in the gym. Friday's practice will take place at 9:30 a.m., the last session before hosting the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night.

FCD 2, CS Herediano 0

UPDATE (Post-game): FC Dallas defeated Costa Rica's Club Sport Herediano 2-0 tonight in an international friendly at Pizza Hut Park behind goals from Andre Rocha and guest player Alex Fichera. Kickoff, originally slated for 7:30 p.m. CT was delayed an hour due to severe storms in the area. Fans were brought inside the club / suites building and taken to the tunnel area off the north stage until it was safe to venture back outside.

Rocha’s header came in the 21st minute off a nice exchange between Ferreira and McCarty on a short corner that resulted in McCarty sending the cross to Rocha in the box. In the 60th minute, Fichera slipped one by the keeper after Peri Marosevic laid a ball off to him at the top of the area. The referee dished out 11 total cards with seven, including three reds, going to the visitors. Visit FCDallas.com for a full recap. Post-game comments from head coach Schellas Hyndman below...

Tatu to Headline Dallas Soccer Tribute Match

Dallas Sidekicks great Tatu will headline the list of participants set to play in the Dallas Soccer Tribute Match on June 13 prior to the FCD vs. Houston Dynamo game at Pizza Hut Park (7:30 p.m. CT). The Tribute Match kicks off at 5:15 p.m. on the PHP stadium field.

FCD vs. CS Herediano Tonight

FC Dallas takes on Costa Rica Primera Division team Club Sport Herediano in an international friendly tonight at Pizza Hut Park, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. CT. Watch via live webstream at FCDallas.com, with broadcaster Bobby Rhine on the call.

CS Herediano is coming off a successful season in which the club reached their league's two-leg aggregate goal final two weeks ago, but missed out on winning the franchise's 22nd league title by falling to Liberia Mia. Although their season has ended, it's been a busy week for Herediano, having played the LA Galaxy at The Home Depot Center last night, a 1-0 LA win. Want to learn more about the game? Read the online preview at FCDallas.com.

Bob, Dan and Donovan as Honorary Coaches

Just got back from The Ticket studios not too long ago for Kenny Cooper's and Bobby Rhine's in-studio appearance on BaD Radio this afternoon. So, what did you think of the segment? How do you think Bob Sturm, Dan McDowell and Donovan Lewis will do as honorary coaches for the Dallas Soccer Tribute Match on Saturday?

The Ticket guys were nice enough to allow FCD TV into the studio this afternoon and we hope to have some video footage from the interview up shortly. We're also looking into whether or not a full podcast of the interview will be made available.

A Quick One

With a friendly versus CS Herediano scheduled for Wednesday night, it was another quick practice session for FC Dallas this morning, lasting about an hour in duration. The first 20 minutes were spent on agility drills with ladders and cones. The team then moved into a short-field passing drill before utilizing the full field for the final portion of training.

Daniel Torres was back on the practice field today jogging off to the side along with Bruno Guarda. Dario Sala also made his first appearance outside in several weeks to work with the training staff. Kenny Cooper did not participate in practice, resting a minor knock to his knee picked up in Sunday's game.

Kenny Cooper / Bobby Rhine on BaD Radio

Kenny Cooper and community development manager Bobby Rhine will join Bob Sturm and Dan McDowell in-studio Tuesday afternoon for BaD Radio on Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket, their segment beginning around 1:50 p.m. The guys will be talking about Saturday's game against the Houston Dynamo and will be making a big announcement regarding the Dallas Soccer Tribute Match taking place beforehand this weekend. The show airs Monday-Friday from Noon to 3 p.m. and can be heard live on 1310 AM, 104.1 FM, and streaming online at http://www.theticket.com/ (podcasts also available).

Follow-up: Last Call w/ Drew Moor

In case you missed it, Drew Moor's "Last Call" feature interview segment aired last night on NBC-5 Sunday sports show Out of Bounds. You can watch the online version below and catch the replay on NBC-5 this Friday, June 12 during the 4 p.m. news.

Busy Week Ahead

Following Sunday's 2-2 draw with San Jose, this morning's practice session kicked off at 9:30 a.m. and only lasted about an hour and 10 minutes, ending at 10:40 a.m. The starters from yesterday participated in a light recovery workout, going for a group jog around the complex. Afterwards, some of the starters worked separately on their individual conditioning.

The remaining players were put through a rigorous workout which began with sprinting and agility drills. After the conditioning exercises, Schellas Hyndman ran the group through different variations of 3 v 3 drills, bringing Josh Lambo, league pool goalkeeper Bryant Rueckner, and two full-size goals into the fold for the final phase. Although practice was short in duration, the players were visibly exhausted from these high intensity exercises.

Alvaro "Tom" Sanchez, who sustained a right ankle injury yesterday against the Earthquakes, did not practice today. Dario Sala continued treatment inside on his left knee. Daniel Torres, who missed yesterday's game with a right hamstring injury, worked out in the gym with George John, Steve Purdy and Bruno Guarda. Bruno eventually made his way out onto the practice field were he would go through some work with the training staff for about 30 minutes, his first work outside since injuring his right ankle against the LA Galaxy on May 23.

The team will train as a full group on Tuesday morning in preparation for Wednesday night's international friendly against Costa Rica Primera Division club CS Herediano. FCD returns to MLS play on Saturday, hosting southern rival the Houston Dynamo at Pizza Hut Park. Check the schedule to the right for more details.

FCD 2, San Jose Earthquakes 2

UPDATE (Post-game): FC Dallas (2-6-4, 10 pts) found itself down 2-1 with eight minutes left to play, but Kenny Cooper scored his sixth goal of the year in the 87th minute to pull out a 2-2 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes (2-7-3, 9 pts) and extend FCD's unbeaten streak to four straight games. Game highlights and a full recap are available at FCDallas.com.

Game Notes:

• With the draw FC Dallas 2-6-4 (10 pts.) extends its unbeaten streak to four consecutive games and maintains a one-point lead over the San Jose Earthquakes (2-7-3, 9 pts.) in the Western Conference standings.
• Dallas is 1-2-3 at Pizza Hut Park and is now unbeaten in its last four home games.
• FCD is 13-19-7 all-time versus the San Jose Earthquakes and 8-8-4 against San Jose in Dallas.
• Seven of the last eight meetings between Dallas and the Earthquakes have ended in ties.
• David Ferreira today scored his first career MLS goal, redirecting a cross from Jeff Cunningham past San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon. Dax McCarty also assisted on the play, finding Cunningham on the right flank with a long ball.
• Cunningham, now in his 12th MLS season, today made his 299th career regular season appearance, good for ninth on the league’s all-time list. Additionally, it was the 199th start of his career.
• San Jose evened the score in the 60th minute when a Shea Salinas free kick deflected off Dallas defender Pablo Ricchetti’s head.
• The goal ended FCD’s shutout streak at 237 consecutive minutes.
• Former Dallas midfielder Arturo Alvarez put the Quakes up in the 82nd minute with a left-footed shot from inside the box.
• Kenny Cooper tied the game with three minutes to play, finishing off a feed from Brek Shea. It was Shea’s first career MLS assist. Andre Rocha also assisted on the play.
• Cooper now has six goals on the season and is just two behind league leaders Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus) and Conor Casey (Colorado).
• Cooper today set a league record by starting his 44th consecutive regular season game as a forward dating back to the 2007 season, surpassing Taylor Twellman (2005-2007) and Alejandro Moreno (2007-2008) who each started 43 consecutive games.
• Four Dallas players have now started all 12 regular season games: Cooper, van den Bergh, David Ferreira, and Drew Moor. Moor and Ferreira are the only two remaining to have played every minute this year.
• Marcelo Saragosa returned to the field today, lining up on the right side of the defense after serving a one-game suspension last week versus Chicago.
• After missing the previous game because of illness, Andre Rocha today made his return to the field as a second-half substitute.
• Five FCD players missed the game due to injury: goalkeeper Dario Sala (left knee), midfielder Bruno Guarda (right ankle), and defenders Steve Purdy (right knee), Daniel Torres (right hamstring), and George John (right hamstring).
• Head coach Schellas Hyndman sat out today’s game while serving a one-game suspension following an ejection in the team’s previous game at Chicago on May 31.
• Dallas will host Costa Rica’s CS Herediano in an international friendly at Pizza Hut Park this Wednesday night, June 10, at 7:30 p.m. CT.
• FC Dallas will remain at Pizza Hut Park for its next two regular season games on June 13 versus the Houston Dynamo (7:30 p.m. CT) and on June 20 against the Columbus Crew (7:30 p.m. CT).

Earthquakes Come to Town

Today FC Dallas (2-6-3, 9 pts) plays host to fellow Western Conference club the San Jose Earthquakes (2-7-2, 8 pts), a 2 p.m. game at Pizza Hut Park (live locally on KFWD-52 and nationally on TeleFutura). Let's make this post the home for any pre-game discussion of today's matchup. Some quick hits on the game are below...

• FC Dallas is currently on a three-game unbeaten streak overall and is also unbeaten in its last three games at Pizza Hut Park.
• Dallas is 13-19-6 all-time against San Jose and 8-8-3 versus the Quakes at home.
• Dallas is coming off a big 3-0 road win against the Chicago Fire, while San Jose defeated Real Salt Lake 2-1 at home in their previous game. The Quakes had lost five straight prior to that win.
• Six of the last seven meetings between these two clubs have ended in draws.
• FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman will miss today's game to serve a one-game suspension stemming from an ejection last week at Chicago.
• San Jose will be without Ramiro Corrales (caution accumulation), and Cornell Glen and Simon Elliott (international duty).
• The Quakes have two former Dallas players on their roster: Arturo Alvarez and Aaron Pitchkolan.
• Read the full online preview here.

FCD on ESPN Deportes Radio

Not sure how many Spanish-speakers frequent this blog, but it's important to note that FC Dallas and 1540 AM ESPN Deportes Radio have formed a broadcast partnership which will see the team's 19 remaining games aired locally on the Spanish-language all-sports station, beginning with this Sunday's game against the San Jose Earthquakes at 2 p.m. CT. Thirteen-year veteran play-by-play man Carlos Alvarado will continue to call the games with color commentator Rafa Calderon. Each broadcast will include a 30-minute pre- and post-game show.

DVR Alert: Last Call with Drew Moor

Photo: Rick Yeatts / FC Dallas

Last month, NBC-5's James Chippendale came out after practice one day to shoot an in-depth one-on-one interview with Drew Moor for a feature called "Last Call." The two would also get out on the field together to take penalty kicks on one another before taking the camera crew over to Drew's favorite bagel shop, where they would grab a bite and continue their conversation. That feature will run this Sunday night on local sports show Out of Bounds with Newy Scruggs and Matt Barrie at 10:30 p.m. CT. An online version will be posted on NBCDFW.com that night and a broadcast replay will air next Friday, June 12 during the 4 p.m. news.

Preview: FCD vs. San Jose

FC Dallas (2-6-3, 9 pts) hosts the San Jose Earthquakes (2-7-2, 8 pts) in a Western Conference match-up this Sunday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park (2 p.m. CT live on KFWD-52 / TeleFutura).

Last weekend, FCD extended its unbeaten streak to three games by handing the league's final unbeaten team, the Chicago Fire, its first defeat of the year. A day earlier, the Earthquakes ended their five-game losing streak, defeating Real Salt Lake 2-1 at home. Visit FCDallas.com to read the online game preview and to download the complete game guide for a full in-depth look at Sunday's contest.

Below, head coach Schellas Hyndman and midfielder Dax McCarty recap last weekend's 3-0 win at Chicago and talk about building on that when the San Jose Earthquakes come to town this Sunday.

Preview: FC Dallas vs San Jose Earthquakes from FC Dallas on Vimeo.

Cool Breeze

With clear skies and a nice cool breeze providing the setting, FC Dallas was in good spirits on the practice field for a full two hour session. A possession drill started things off and then the team moved into a crossing / finishing exercise. Following was a 30-minute 8 v 8 drill (plus keepers), stopping play intermittently to focus on set pieces.

To finish the practice, dummies were placed inside Josh Lambo’s 18-yard box, providing obstacles for three teams of four players attempting to finish crosses in a competitive exercise. The foursome of Peri Marosevic, Andre Rocha, Eric Avila, and Marcelo Saragosa ended up winning the competition, ending practice on a positive note. The team will be back on the field again tomorrow at 10 in preparation for the Sunday game against the visiting San Jose Earthquakes.

Tonight's U.S. Qualifier Moved to ESPN2

Heads up -- for those planning to watch tonight’s U.S. Men’s National Team World Cup Qualifier at Costa Rica, please note that the game will now air on ESPN2 instead of ESPN as originally scheduled, due to possible conflicts with baseball coverage. The move now allows for a 30 minute pregame show beginning at 8:30 p.m. CT, with kickoff set for 9:06 p.m. CT. So what do you think? Will the United States, at 0-6-1 in qualifying matches in Costa Rica, finally get its first-ever win in the country tonight? Feel free to discuss here.

Two Groups

The field players started this morning's practice session together with a light warm-up but soon after they divided into two groups. One group, composed of the eight players who played the full 90 minutes in last night's scrimmage, went off to the side of the field for a recovery session, while the remaining players ran through a 6 v 6 possession game. At the same time, goalkeepers Ray Burse and Josh Lambo worked with GK coach Drew Keeshan. The last part of training had the team stay in 6 v 6, but with full-sized goals (and keepers) added to a 40 yard x 20 yard field.

George John today made his first appearance in full training since injuring his right hamstring on May 16 against Seattle, but stepped off the field after about an hour with some tightness in his hamstring. He could return to practice on Thursday morning, depending on how his leg feels. Bruno Guarda (right ankle) remained inside today with Dario Sala (left knee) and Steve Purdy (right knee).

Scrimmage: FCD 3, WTU Sockers 0

Blake Wagner opened the scoring in tonight's scrimmage versus the West Texas United Sockers. Photo: Rick Yeatts / FC Dallas.

FC Dallas tonight defeated Midland's West Texas United Sockers (PDL) 3-0 in a scrimmage played on PHP Field 4, with goals from Blake Wagner, Peri Marosevic, and Jeff Cunningham. The team played a 4-4-2 formation throughout. Highlights can be found below...

The scrimmage consisted of three 30 minute periods, and it was the Sockers who had the first real opportunity of the game. In the 10th minute, the Midland team had seemingly put one by FCD goalkeeper Josh Lambo, however, the ball bounced off the inside the post and harmlessly edged the line which allowed FCD to clear to safety. Shortly thereafter, Blake Wagner played a one-two with Brek Shea and then cut inside to his right from his left-sided position. He then beat two defenders and used his right foot to sneak one past the goalkeeper on the near post.

0-30 min: Josh Lambo, Lucas dos santos Oliveira*, Michael Dello-Russo, Kyle Davies, Blake Wagner, Eric Avila, Marcelo Saragosa, Andre Rocha, Brek Shea, Peri Marosevic, Kenny Cooper.

FCD made a couple of changes the lineup in the second period, pulling Kenny Cooper out of the match, shifting Eric Avila to the left side of the midfield while bringing in Jeff Cunningham to play on the right. Brek Shea moved up alongside Peri Marosevic as a striker. The next goal for FCD would come four minutes in to the second period when Andre Rocha lifted a ball over the top of the defense to Marosevic who calmly slotted one past the goalkeeper with his right foot from the left side of the goal. Six minutes later, Cunningham received a ball from Marcelo Saragosa and then proceeded to navigate his way to the box and through three Sockers defenders to put one past the goalkeeper with the inside of his left foot.

30-60 min: Josh Lambo, Lucas dos santos Oliveira*, Michael Dello-Russo, Kyle Davies, Blake Wagner, Jeff Cunningham, Marcelo Saragosa, Andre Rocha, Eric Avila, Peri Marosevic, Brek Shea.

The third period did not see any goals, but it did see Anthony Wallace take the field as the left midfielder while Cunningham departed after his 30 minutes of duty. In the 72nd minute, Saragosa had a goal called back due to being ruled offside by the linesmen after a quick exchange with Marosevic. The Sockers were again unfortunate to not get on the board in the 88th minute when Wally Valdivia got to a 50-50 ball between himself and Lambo, but his shot hit the post, allowing Kyle Davies to then clear it off the line.

60-90 min: Josh Lambo, Lucas dos santos Oliveira*, Michael Dello-Russo, Kyle Davies, Blake Wagner, Eric Avila, Marcelo Saragosa, Andre Rocha, Anthony Wallace, Peri Marosevic, Brek Shea.

*guest player

Scrimmage Highlights:

FCD to Visit Midland on July 7

Tomorrow night at 7 p.m., FC Dallas will scrimmage Midland PDL team West Texas United Sockers on PHP Field 4. Today, both clubs announced that the teams will meet again on July 7 for an exhibition match in Midland at Grande Communications Stadium. July 7 will mark the first-ever visit to the Permian Basin by an MLS team for a competitive match.

GM Michael Hitchcock attended this afternoon's press conference in Midland -- his thoughts on the match: “FC Dallas has many fans in the Permian Basin and we consider this area to be an important market for the success of our franchise in the years to come. We are very excited to be the first MLS team to play a match in West Texas, and we look forward to facing the Sockers.”

Vote Kenny for Goal of the Week!

Kenny Cooper's free kick goal against the Chicago Fire yesterday is up for MLS Goal of the Week honors. It's the second time Cooper has been nominated for a goal against the Fire this season, so let's make this one count. Click here to watch the bending deadball strike again and vote for Kenny!