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FC Dallas 6, Galaxy 3

Sep 13, 2009 - 6:02 AM By JOSEPH D'HIPPOLITO STATS MLS Correspondent

CARSON, Calif. (STATS) - Jeff Cunningham embodied the speed that FC Dallas used to devastate the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Cunningham had two goals and two assists to lead FC Dallas to a 6-3 rout of the Galaxy on Saturday night.

FC Dallas (7-11-6) broke a three-game winless streak and denied the Galaxy (9-5-11) a chance to move into first place in Major League Soccer's Western Conference.

Cunningham increased his career total to 116 goals and his seasonal output to 12, putting him one behind Colorado's Conor Casey for the MLS lead.

"There was just not enough speed to cover Jeff Cunningham," Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said. "I think the guy is 32-years old, going on 33. But if you've ever seen him, he looks like he's probably 25, 26. He's very, very healthy and strong."

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, whose team set a club record for most goals allowed in one game, agreed.

"If we get in track meets with teams, we're not going to win a lot of the races," said Arena, whose team had a 306-minute shutout streak entering the match. "We were awful from the opening kickoff. We deserved everything we got."

Dallas also made a lineup change to take control in the second half.

Defender Daniel Hernandez replaced forward Marvin Chavez in the 46th minute "to sit in front of the defense," said Hyndman, who added he also asked midfielder Dax McCarty to mark the Galaxy's David Beckham closely.

"That helped us a lot," Hyndman said. "The quality passes weren't penetrating like they were in the first half."

Cunningham and McCarty combined to break a 2-all tie in the 71st minute. Cunningham beat defender Gregg Berhalter along the left side before passing to McCarty, who scored from four yards.

Dallas then scored three times in a four-minute span to put away the game. Atiba Harris converted a 4-yard header in the 82nd, and Cunningham passed to David Ferreira for an 8-yard shot one minute later.

Cunningham then scored on a 19-yard shot inside the left post in the 86th minute.

Dallas took a 2-0 lead in the first 25 minutes. Dave van den Bergh converted a 21-yard free kick in the eighth minute, then Cunningham scored off Harris' right-wing cross from 13 yards inside the right post in the 25th minute.

The Galaxy narrowed the deficit to 2-1 in the 26th minute on an own goal from Dallas defender Jair Benitez. A.J. De La Garza tied the match at 2 in the 42nd minute with his first MLS goal.

"As I said at halftime," Hyndman said, "there are going to be more goals."

The Galaxy's Edson Buddle ended the scoring in the 90th minute.

Los Angeles forward Landon Donovan clipped Ferreira seconds before the final whistle to start a shoving match between players from both teams.

Chavez and Hernandez both made their debuts for Dallas.