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FC Dallas-Wizards Preview

Sep 18, 2009 - 7:30 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

FC Dallas (7-11-6) at Kansas City (7-11-6), 8:30 p.m. EDT

FC Dallas had a record-setting performance in its last match with Kansas City. That is exactly why it won't look past the Wizards this time.

Dallas tries to improve its slim playoff hopes Saturday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, where it faces a Wizards club coming off a successful stretch on the road.

With then-leading scorer Kenny Cooper transferred to 1860 Munich in Germany the previous day, Dallas' Jeff Cunningham scored a career-high four goals and David Arturo Rico Ferreira found the back of the net twice in a 6-0 victory over visiting Kansas City on Aug. 1.

Dallas (7-11-6) tied the franchise record for goals in a game and posted its largest-ever margin of victory.

"We embarrassed them ... and professional athletes don't forget that," coach Schellas Hyndman told the team's official Web site. "They will be at their best (on Saturday)."

Cunningham looks to continue his scoring surge against the Wizards (7-11-6) after notching two goals and two assists in a 6-3 win at Los Angeles on Saturday. Cunningham is second in MLS with 12 goals, trailing Colorado's Conor Casey by one.

"There was just not enough speed to cover Jeff Cunningham," said Hyndman, whose club trails sixth-place Real Salt Lake by seven points in the Western Conference.

Cunningham earned player of the week honors for the third time and moved past Ante Razov for second place on the career goals list with 116.

Cunningham has 19 multi-goal games, third-most all-time behind Razov (22) and the Galaxy's Landon Donovan (21).

Kansas City's Kevin Hartman didn't have much success against Cunningham in the clubs' last matchup, but he remains one of the league's most consistent goalkeepers.

Hartman stopped five shots in a 1-0 victory over New York on Saturday for his 83rd shutout, most in MLS history. He also tops the league's career wins list with 145.

Josh Wolff scored in the 10th minute for the Wizards, who went 2-0-1 during their road stretch.

"We had so many opportunities we missed earlier in the year," Hartman said. "But I think this week (three road games in eight days) was a step in the right direction. We got two wins and we now go back home and have to keep playing well."

Kansas City, though, was shut out in three of its last four home games.

The Wizards acquired Kei Kamara from Houston on Tuesday. The forward scored his first goal of the season in the Dynamo's 1-0 victory over Dallas on May 9. He has five goals in 2009.

"We know the type of speed that he has," Hyndman said. "They'll be a better team with him."

Dallas is 2-8-2 on the road.