FRISCO, Texas -- In their first game without Kenny Cooper, FC Dallas got four goals from Jeff Cunningham and two goals from David Ferreira to hand Kansas City a 6-0 defeat Saturday at Pizza Hut Park.
The margin of defeat was the largest in club history, surpassing a 5-0 whitewashing of Kansas City on July 10, 1999. The outburst also tied a club record for most goals in a game, set previously in a 6-3 win at Colorado on June 16, 2001. It was the second-biggest loss in Wizards history, after a 7-0 loss to Chicago in 2001.Cunningham's four goals were also a career high, becoming the ninth player to score four goals in a league game, one short of the MLS record, and his first of the night was the 109th of his league career, moving him past current Real Salt Lake head coach and former Dallas Burn star Jason Kreis on the MLS all-time list.
Both coaches made several alterations to their first 11 from a week ago. Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo brought Arnaud back into his midfield after the all-star midfielder missed the month of July playing for the U.S. national team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Jack Jewsbury moved from midfield to the back line while Adam Cristman got his first start for the Wizards up top.
FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman also made a couple of alterations to his starting group. In goal, Dario Sala returned for his first start since April 25 at Chivas USA after missing much of 2009 due to a knee injury.
In the back, Davies started at center back after missing last week's loss at Real Salt Lake due to a foot injury and Daniel Torres shifted from center back to right back with normal starter Drew Moor unavailable due to suspension. Shea returned to the first 11 after playing just one minute against RSL.
Early on, it was the home side that controlled the run of play. Three minutes in, FCD got their first chance off their first corner of the evening. Dave van den Bergh struck a beautiful ball to the left flank that was met with a leaping header by defender Kyle Davies. But his header was right at Wizards' goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
Kansas City's first opportunity came in the 11th minute after Josh Wolff dashed up the right flank before delivering a nice cross to the middle of the FCD box. Davy Arnaud was able to dive in and head the ball but his effort went wide left.
The FCD onslaught continued and in the 14th minute, Brek Shea forced Hartman to come up with another big stop. Hartman denied the big Texan's bid for his first MLS goal from the left flank. Atiba Harris swooped in to collect the rebound but his effort went wide right.
At the half-hour mark, FCD looked to have taken the lead thanks to an apparent goal by Cunningham. Dax McCarty threaded his teammate and Cunningham knocked the ball into the back of the net, only for the flag to go up for offside.
However, nine minutes later, Cunningham would not be denied. Ferreira started things off by sending a great ball from the midfield through the K.C. defense. His intended target was Harris, who made a great run up the right flank before crossing it in the direction of the far post, where Cunningham dashed in to drive it home.
Then three minutes later, Ferreira's third tally of the year gave FCD a two-goal cushion. Van den Bergh began the sequence by setting Shea free on the left flank. He then delivered a great ball into the heart of the Wizards box that Ferreira finished perfectly for the goal.
At the break, FCD had nine total shots compared to two by the Wizards. Five of the home side's efforts were on frame compared to none by K.C.. Onalfo made one change at the break with Lance Watson entering the match for Gomez.
Some four minutes into the second half, Arnaud nearly drew one back for the Wizards. His shot from distance was denied by Sala near the upper left corner of goal. Then in the 56th, Cristman had a one-on-one chance with the FCD 'keeper and rolled the ball home, but he was ruled offside on the play.
Cunningham's second goal came from the penalty spot in the 66th minute. Referee Andrew Chapin pointed to the spot after the veteran forward was taken down on the left side of the box by Kansas City's Raushawn McKenzie, and after a quick stutter step, Cunningham knocked the ball into the right side of the net. His conversion came one week after he missed a PK attempt in the second half last week at RSL.
Things went from bad to worse in the 68th when Lopez was sent off for a hard foul on McCarty. The Argentinean playmaker appeared to elbow McCarty near the center circle and Chapin quickly went to his back pocket to send Lopez to the showers.
Cunningham completed the hat trick in the 76th thanks to another great assist by Shea. The FCD midfielder hit a high, arcing cross to the left flank, where Cunningham had a slight edge on McKenzie and the veteran scorer connected for his second career triple. His other three-goal game came on June 19, 2005 with Colorado against Chivas USA.
FCD added goal No. 5 in the 78th after a poor clearance by K.C.'s Santiago Hirsig. Ferreira hustled to collect the miscue and with Hartman way off his line, the Colombian playmaker raced in alone and slotted home for his second goal of the night. It was FCD's first five-goal league game since a 5-2 win against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on May 22, 2005.
About a minute before full time, Cunningham netted goal No. 4. The veteran scorer's shot came from the right edge of the area, a chance that Hartman looked to deny. However, the ball slipped beneath him and rolled across the end line to give FCD a 6-0 edge.
The home side got just their second clean sheet of 2009 and first in eight games with the victory. Their only other shutout came on May 31, when FCD handed Brimstone Cup rival Chicago a 3-0 defeat at Toyota Park.
The Wizards return to action next Saturday at D.C. United while FC Dallas will play host to Houston on Thursday night.
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
