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MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Weekly Update

April 4, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


IMMEDIATE IMPACT: FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper had a dream debut for FC Dallas on Saturday, scoring the game-winning goal just five minutes after coming onto the field. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the five minutes that Cooper was on the field prior to scoring was the shortest span in which any player has scored his first MLS goal since John Wolyniec scored five minutes after debuting for the then MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) in 1999.

Cooper's tally also set a record of another kind as it made him the fourth player under the age of 22 to score in that game. Cooper (21), joined Arturo Alvarez (20), Roberto Mina (21) and the Fire's Chad Barrett (20) on the score-sheet making this the first time in MLS history that four different goal scorers were under the age of 22.

The previous record was three goal-scorers in a game under the age of 22, a record that was set on August 16, 2003 in another 3-2 Dallas win. That match saw Brad Davis (21), Eddie Johnson (19) and Joselito Vaca (21) score to knock off the Kansas City Wizards at Dragon Stadium.

KING KREIS RETURNS: Jason Kreis, the all-time leading scorer in MLS and Dallas history, will look to make his Pizza Hut Park debut on Saturday evening when the Hoops host Real Salt Lake. Kreis, who returned from a serious knee injury, coming off the bench for RSL late in its season opening 3-0 loss to Chivas USA, was ruled out for the remainder of the 2005 season just days before his team's first visit to Pizza Hut Park in September. He was in attendance at the stadium that day but did not play as the Hoops earned a 2-1 win behind a pair of Roberto Mina strikes.

Kreis spent the first nine years of his MLS career in Dallas, scoring 91 goals and adding 65 assists. Last year he became the first player in league history to hit the 100-goal plateau, doing so with his ninth and final strike of the year on August 13 against Kansas City.

He started and played all 90 minutes in the first three meetings of the season between FCD and RSL in 2005, however he was not able to register a goal, making FC Dallas the only team that Kreis has ever played against without registering a goal.

KEEPING UP WITH THE KEEPERS: Over the weekend, team doctors further evaluated goalkeeper Jeff Cassar's injury that kept him from suiting up for the season opening 3-2 win over Chicago. Last Thursday, the doctors had examined Cassar for a possible hernia, though they later determined that was not the case and that surgery was not necessary. After looking at his films, the doctors determined that Cassar was suffering from an inflammation of the hipbone joint, caused by an arthritic right hip. The arthritis flared up, which has caused the discomfort and pain for the 11-year veteran.

Cassar will be undergoing core-stability training while taking anti-inflammatory medicine for a week. He is listed as week-to-week but will likely not be active for the second game of the season on Saturday, April 8 against Real Salt Lake.

FCD's opening day starting goalkeeper Dario Sala had oral surgery on Monday, April 3 to treat an abscess, an infection of the gums. He is expected to return to training on Wednesday.

RESERVES READY TO GO: The FC Dallas Reserves, who finished with a 6-5-1 record (19 points) in the 2005 Reserve Division, will open up their 2006 schedule with a home match against Real Salt Lake on Sunday, April 9 at 10 a.m. on the adidas Field at Pizza Hut Park. The Hoops will once again play 12 games, six home and six road Reserve Division games. The Reserve Division, established in 2005, uses single-table standings - without conferences - in which the team with the most points at the end of the season wins the Reserve Division Cup and a $20,000 cash prize. In 2005, D.C. United was crowned Reserve Division Champions, finishing with 24 points from 12 games, five points clear of FC Dallas, New England and New York who tied for second place. The complete FC Dallas Reserve Division schedule can be found on www.fcdallas.net.

EASTER EGG HUNT: Following the successful debut of the FC Dallas Foundation with the Kick-Off Luncheon and Oscar Pareja Hispanic Clinic during FC Dallas week, the Foundation will carry out another initiative this week with the inter-active Easter Egg Hunt.

Over 300 kids will participate in an Easter Egg Hunt on Wednesday, April 5 at Pizza Hut Park from 4:30-6:30 p.m. A kids park will be set up on the Chevy Plaza on the north end of the stadium before the official Egg Hunt begins - in which the children will race to gather the 10,000 treat-filled eggs that are ‘hidden' all over the playing field. The day wraps up with pizza and cookies on the stage, while the kids meet FC Dallas players David Wagengfuhr, Kenny Cooper, Arturo Alvarez, Jeff Cassar, Clarence Goodson and Dax McCarty. The benefiting organizations are the Frisco Boys & Girls Club, the East Dallas Boys & Girls Club, the Plano Boys & Girls Club, the Richardson Boys & Girls Club, Trinity River Mission, the Community Partners Rainbow Room, and the Caesar Chavez Learning Center.

CONCERTS COMING TO PIZZA HUT PARK: Pizza Hut Park General Manager Michael Hitchcock, in collaboration with AEG Live and the Meridian Group, announced last week that international pop-sensation RBD and country-legend George Strait will perform in April and May in the first two concerts in the history of Pizza Hut Park. Acclaimed Mexican phenomenon group RBD will be the first-ever stand-alone concert at the state-of-the-art Frisco venue when they perform on Saturday, April 29. Just less than a month later, George Strait, one of the foremost stars in country music, comes to the venue for a show on Friday, May 26. Tickets for both shows start at $49.50 and are on sale now through all TicketMaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 972-647-5700 or 214-373-8000.

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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.

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