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United-FC Dallas Preview

May 7, 2010 - 10:43 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

D.C. (1-5-0) at FC Dallas (1-1-4), 9:00 p.m. EDT

After dismal starts to the season, D.C. United and FC Dallas each changed up their goaltenders in their last game. With those moves, both clubs finally found their way into the win column as well.

One of these last-place teams could post a second consecutive victory Saturday when they face off at Pizza Hut Park.

Dallas (1-1-4) is tied for the fewest points in the Eastern Conference and D.C. (1-5-0) shares last place in the West, but coming off short rest, both clubs will look to sustain the momentum of their wins earlier this week.

United, outscored 13-2 in their first five games, recorded a 2-1 home victory over Kansas City on Wednesday. They got two first-half goals from Danny Allsopp - the first Australian to score in MLS history - and received an outstanding effort by rookie goaltender Bill Hamid.

The club had been shut out in its previous two games.

"I think it was a relief for everyone, really," Allsopp said of ending the scoring drought. "It was great to score in front of our home fans, they have gone through a lot with us. I think everyone is pleased tonight and hopefully we can start to win games."

While Allsopp provided an offensive lift, the key to the win may have been Hamid, who made five saves to earn a victory in his MLS debut.

He started Wednesday in place of a healthy but struggling Troy Perkins, and Hamid figures to start again Saturday after an impressive debut.

"I thought (Hamid) played extremely well," coach Curt Onalfo said. "He's 19 years old and it's his first MLS game. I think he looked a little bit shaky on a couple of plays, but that's normal. ... I'm proud of his performance and I thought he had a really solid game."

FC Dallas also made a change in net this week, choosing to go with Kevin Hartman in place of Dario Sala in a 1-0 win over Houston on Wednesday.

Dallas played a man down in the final 18 minutes after Jair Benitez was ejected for a red card after elbowing Houston's Luis Landin in the face. However, Ugo Ihemelu's goal in the 79th minute and Hartman's solid three-save effort were enough.

"I think the team is on the right track and I think it was a heck of an effort (against Houston)," coach Schellas Hyndman told Dallas' official website. "Maybe I'm a stubborn coach, but I look at that as the level of expectation. You expect your players to work hard, you expect your players to be physical and you expect your players to be courageous."

On Friday, the league announced it had suspended Benitez for one game and fined him $250 for an incident earlier in the victory which was not seen by officials. The red card means he'll miss the following game against Philadelphia as well.

While Hartman will likely get another chance in goal Saturday, he did struggle against Dallas in U.S. Open Cup competition last month, recording only one save in a 4-2 loss.