 |
|
US: MLS Preview- FC Dallas v San Jose Earthquakes [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
FC Dallas (10-7-6, 36 pts) v San Jose Earthquakes (12-4-8, 44 pts)
When: 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, September 3
Where: Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
The top two teams in the Western Conference square off in The Oven this weekend, but the heat should stay on the home side. Since the last time these sides met two months ago, they have headed in opposite directions.
The 2-2 draw in the Cotton Bowl, the last MLS match ever played there, started an eight-match streak that hasn’t produced a victory for the Hoops. Meantime, San Jose have only lost once in the same span, supplanting FCD as the top team in their conference.
Fortunes don’t get any better for FC Dallas in this contest as they’ll miss four starters — forwards Eddie Johnson and Carlos Ruiz for international duty and defenders Clarence Goodson and Chris Gbandi due to suspensions — with Greg Vanney having been released by Bruce Arena.
Robert Mina and Abe Thompson, who provided scoring for the Hoops while Ruiz and EJ were out earlier in the season, will once again be forced to carry the attack. Scott Garlick, who has not started an MLS match since the All-Star break, will be back in the nets after Jeff Cassar separated his shoulder in last week’s draw with Chivas USA. He’ll need to shore up a patchwork back line that will miss Gbandi and Goodson.
San Jose, who have only lost once since the start of June, could have a reason to coast after Real Salt Lake’s loss on Wednesday earned the Quakes the first post-season ticket of the 2005 campaign. However, don’t expect head coach Dominic Kinnear to allow that to happen.
The Quakes are still fighting for the Supporter’s Shield, and a win in Pizza Hut Park will put them 11 points clear of the Hoops. They’ll miss playmaker Dwayne De Rosario to international duty, as well as Brad Davis who is still nursing a groin injury, so the burden of scoring will once again be on Ronald Cerritos. San Jose will want to change their luck against FCD this season as they were hit with three serious injuries in the first meeting and an early ejection in their second.
With four starters missing, Dallas would be content for the third draw in the season series, even though a victory would end their streak and finally allow the faithful to celebrate at Pizza Hut Park. San Jose should have no problem shutting down the depleted Hoops attack, as they haven’t allowed more than one goal in their past six MLS matches.
News headlines from around the world.