TORONTO -- Amidst all of the changes taking place with FC Dallas, the most welcome difference for the players is that the team is finally getting victories.
The Hoops became the first visiting MLS side to leave BMO Field victorious this season as they took a 2-0 win against Toronto FC. It was a very positive result on a difficult away pitch for FCD, who entered the game with just one road win in 2008.
"We've come away with three points on the road in an environment that is very difficult to win," said Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman. "You know the surface, great fan support, a good team, so for us to come away with three points is everything we hoped for."
Dallas is now unbeaten in their last five MLS games (2-0-3) and sit in second place in the Western Conference, just two points behind first-place Real Salt Lake. It is quite a turnaround for a side that has gone through three coaches and has seen a number of notable players come and go this season.
"It's kind of been a year of transition with [former head coach Steve Morrow] leaving and [Marco Ferruzzi] interim [head coach] for a little bit and now Schellas coming in and we've had a couple of players leave now," said striker Kenny Cooper. "But the players who have been here and the guys that have come in are focused on working hard for Schellas. I can tell you every day in training is amazing and it's nice to see that translate into some good performances and some wins for us."
The one constant for FCD has been Cooper, who scored his third brace of the season and second in as many games. The striker converted a penalty kick in the 80th minute following a red card in the penalty area to Toronto's Amado Guevara, and then scored on a 30-yard shot in added time to clinch the win.
Cooper now has 13 goals on the season, a new career-high for the Baltimore native. He is now tied with L.A.'s Landon Donovan atop the Budweiser Golden Boot standings.
While Cooper was the man of the match for the Hoops, the entire side played well in spite of recent roster shakeups. In the past week alone, All-Star midfielder Juan Toja was sold to Romanian side Steaua Bucuresti and attacking midfielder Arturo Alvarez was traded to San Jose, while midfielder Bruno Guarda was acquired from Colorado. If the transfers weren't enough, Dallas was also playing its first game without team captain Duilio Davino, who was sidelined with a toe injury.
Though FCD has lost just once in the six games since Hyndman took over behind the bench, the coach is quick to credit his players for the team's recent success. He noted that his back line has been particularly strong since the team's switch to a 4-4-2 formation.
"They kind of bought into the system that we're playing and they're working hard for each other," Hyndman said. "Our defense, by going with four in the back, we've been able to get the last two games [as] shutouts."
The win was particularly sweet for defender Adrian Serioux, a native of the Toronto suburb of Scarborough. Serioux was the fourth overall selection by Toronto FC in the 2006 expansion draft, but was dealt to Dallas soon thereafter for midfielder Ronnie O'Brien. Serioux has become a fixture on the Hoops back line, and was pleased that his team won for some personally related FC Dallas supporters amidst the BMO Field fans.
"It's always good to come back and play in front of family and friends and get a result that we needed badly," Serioux said. "You know it's a great atmosphere and I'm sure the fans were behind their team. ... We came away with the result and we're happy about it."
With their first road win since April under their belts, the Hoops will look to continue their success away from home on Saturday in Columbus. FCD plays four of their next six games away from Pizza Hut Park before a three-game homestand starting in late September.
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