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Earthquakes-FC Dallas Preview

Jun 4, 2010 - 8:20 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

San Jose (5-3-2) at FC Dallas (2-2-6), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The San Jose Earthquakes and FC Dallas are struggling, and both were happy just to earn a point their last time out. They'll try to pick up three Saturday as they meet in their final game before the World Cup break.

Coming off a 3-1 home loss to Toronto FC four days earlier, San Jose salvaged a 2-all tie with visiting Columbus on Wednesday on Chris Wondolowski's goal in the 79th minute. The Earthquakes (5-3-2 have four goals during a 1-1-2 stretch.

"We're not playing our best soccer right now, but a tie tonight is another point hopefully towards the playoffs, which is our big goal," coach Frank Yallop told the Earthquakes' official website. "Some positives come out of this - it was a good fight back, the guys are disappointed we didn't win, but we're happy we didn't lose and that's important."

FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman felt the same way following a 1-all draw at Chicago last Thursday. David Arturo Ferreira scored his first goal of the season in the sixth minute to give Dallas the lead.

"Anytime you get a point on the road, that's fantastic," Hyndman told the team's official website. "Personally, I would have loved to have won the game. A 1-0 game could have worked out for us, but it's good to get a point here against what I consider a pretty good team."

Dallas (2-2-6) has not played well at home, going 1-1-3. Last season, the club outscored opponents 28-19 in going 8-3-4 at Pizza Hut Park.

In San Jose's last visit to Dallas, the teams played to a 2-all draw June 7. Arturo Alvarez scored in the 80th minute but Dallas got the equalizer seven minutes later.

The Earthquakes, who play four of their next five on the road, are 1-0-2 all-time at Pizza Hut Park.

"Dallas is a great team, going on the road is going to be very tough," Wondolowski said. "But whatever 11 guys go out there, we feel like we can get a 'W.' That's our game plan and we'll try to execute the best we can."

Wondolowski has been doing that, scoring all six of his goals in the last eight matches.

Jeff Cunningham leads Dallas with four goals, but he has not been productive lately, scoring once in the last five games. Cunningham, though, has 11 goals and eight assists in 25 games against San Jose.

The forward had two assists versus the Earthquakes last year and scored the winner in a 2-1 victory at San Jose on Oct. 7.

The previous four matches between these clubs ended in ties. San Jose leads the series 19-14-7.