• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

FC Dallas-Earthquakes Preview

Oct 6, 2009 - 5:07 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

FC Dallas (9-12-6) at San Jose (7-12-7), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The San Jose Earthquakes and FC Dallas will likely miss the playoffs, but they are playing better as the season winds down.

The worst teams in the Western Conference will both be looking for a third straight win Wednesday night when they meet for the second time this season.

San Jose (7-12-7) and FC Dallas (9-12-6) are on the verge of being eliminated from postseason contention, but there appears to be hope for the future.

The Earthquakes are unbeaten in their last four matches (2-0-2) and won their second straight Wednesday, 1-0 over New York. Ryan Johnson converted a first-half penalty kick and goalkeeper Joe Cannon recorded his third shutout in San Jose's last nine matches.

"At the beginning of this season, we were very, very easy to play against," coach Frank Yallop said. "We have moved people on and moved people out that I think weren't maybe up to the task of playing the way I want to play it."

Johnson has scored in back-to-back games and has a team-high 10 goals to tie for seventh in the league. San Jose has scored 32 - the lowest total in the West - and has the second-lowest point total in the league with 28.

"The table doesn't lie; we haven't got enough points to make the playoffs," Yallop said. "What I am pleased with is we've not rolled over and died in the season. That's an important character thing to have for next season. We're keeping this team together as much as we can."

FC Dallas also is not rolling over after a 1-0 win at New England last Wednesday. Jeff Cunningham scored for the fifth straight match and is tied with Colorado's Conor Casey for the league lead with 16 goals.

FC Dallas is 12th in the playoff standings with 33 points, and the top eight qualify. Eighth-place New England has 38.

"We still have games we can win and we still have a chance to get in," Dallas defender Ugo Ihemelu said. "We just have to keep playing our game."

FC Dallas has allowed 43 goals - tied with San Jose for second-most in the league - but now has a chance to record three consecutive shutouts for the first time this season.

"For us to get a 1-0 win, that doesn't happen," Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said. "Our defense always lets us down at the most inappropriate times, but this is a step in the right direction."

Dallas forward Dave van den Bergh, who has a team-best 10 assists, left in the 26th minute because of a right ankle injury. His status is unknown.

The teams played to a 2-2 draw June 7 as Kenny Cooper, who had been with Dallas but has since moved on to play in Germany, scored the tying goal in the 87th minute.