Knowing they needed points from Saturday's matchup against the Los Angeles Galaxy, FC Dallas committed to attacking soccer and never looked back.
Led by a dazzling display by veteran striker Jeff Cunningham, Dallas scored four goals in the second half, thrashing the Galaxy 6-3 at The Home Depot Center to snap a three-game winless streak.
"[I'm a] very excited coach and we're a very excited team," said FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman. "Coming here and playing a team like the Galaxy and scoring the number of goals that we scored, I thought it was a great game and we were fortunate to come away with a win."
The story of the night was Cunningham. The Jamaican native was everywhere Saturday evening, scoring two goals and notching two assists. He now has 12 goals on the season, one behind MLS Golden Boot leader Conor Casey of the Colorado Rapids, and has scored nine in the last seven games.
"Two goals, two assists, and a constant threat," said Hyndman. "He's been huge for us."
Cunningham's two goals moved him ahead of Chivas USA's Ante Razov and into sole possession of second place on the MLS all-time scoring chart with 116 career goals. If he continues to play the way he has of late, overtaking all-time leader Jaime Moreno at 129 might not be very far off.
"Jeff's a great player," said Brek Shea, who assisted on Cunningham's second goal, the team's sixth of the night. "You can give him the ball anywhere and he scores."
Dallas also saw a strong performance from another of its Caribbean-born talents: midfielder Atiba Harris. The St. Kitts native recorded two assists and scored a goal in his first return to The Home Depot Center since being traded to Dallas from Chivas USA.
"Coming back here, I knew my family and friends would be watching me, so I was really motivated," said Harris of his return to Los Angeles. "But most of all, we got the three points and we still have a chance at the playoffs."
Saturday evening also saw the debut of Honduran international Marvin Chavez. The fleet-footed striker played a solid 45 minutes in his first appearance for FCD.
"Chavez is a very good player," said Hyndman. "He's very quick, can score with the right foot, and with the left foot. I think he's going to be a very good player in this league."
Much of Dallas' second-half defensive success came from the tactical change of replacing Chavez with Daniel Hernandez that Hyndman made at halftime. The move allowed Dax McCarty more freedom to deal with David Beckham, who had caused problems for FCD in the first 45 minutes.
"In the first half, he had way too much space," said McCarty of Beckham. "So in the second half, I was supposed to know where he was at all times and try to deny him space. I thought for the most part, I did what I could."
FCD now has 27 points from 24 matches. And while their chances of making the playoffs may be slim, they're not giving up.
"As long as we have a chance, we'll keep fighting," said Hyndman.
Coming off their first victory away from home since a 3-0 victory at Chicago on May 31, FC Dallas continue their pursuit of the playoffs next Saturday at Kansas City. The two teams last met on Aug. 1, with Dallas scoring, coincidentally, six goals in a shutout home victory against the Wizards.
Jeffrey King is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
