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Revolution-FC Dallas Preview

Sep 21, 2010 - 9:45 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Senior Writer

New England (7-14-3) at FC Dallas (10-2-12), 8:30 p.m. EDT

FC Dallas is on a 15-game unbeaten stretch that's put it in contention for one of the Western Conference's two automatic playoff spots.

If it hopes to earn one, Dallas could really use three points Wednesday night.

That might not be so easy with star goalkeeper Kevin Hartman sidelined for a few weeks, but Dallas will nonetheless be eager to take advantage of the road-weary New England Revolution.

Dallas (10-2-12) led New York 2-1 on Thursday before an own goal forced it to settle for a 2-all draw, which pulled the club to within three matches of the 2004 Columbus Crew's league-record 18-game unbeaten run.

Coach Schellas Hyndman's club was hardly focused on that after the match, though. Hartman suffered an injured MCL in his right knee when Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry tried to triumphantly kick the ball back into the goal after New York had already scored.

Hartman, whose shutout streak ended at 415 minutes, tried to intercede and wound up getting hurt.

"It's the weight it puts on us now. I thought Hartman was going to be up for MVP," Hyndman said of the veteran, who had allowed the fewest goals (12) in the league. "Now we have to go get a pool goalkeeper. It was something that was not necessary, so we'll see what happens."

If Dallas can recover from the loss of Hartman, it might be able to catch Real Salt Lake for the West's second automatic playoff spot. Dallas trails the defending champions by five points but has a game in hand and a trip to Salt Lake City remaining.

Dario Sala gets the call to replace Hartman, but Dallas' injury woes don't stop there. A strained left hamstring will keep midfielder Daniel Hernandez out, while midfielder Brek Shea - second on the team with five goals - will be serving the first of a two-game suspension for a dangerous tackle.

Marvin Chavez and Eric Avila are likely to take the place of Hernandez and Shea on the wings.

New England (7-14-3) salvaged a 1-all draw when it hosted Dallas on May 1, but it's watched its playoff hopes disappear over the past month. The Revolution have been outscored 14-6 in dropping five of six, losing 3-0 at Colorado on Saturday in the second of three straight matches on the road.

New England, which fell behind five minutes in, is an MLS-worst 1-10-1 away from home. It was the third time in five matches the Revs have conceded a goal within 20 minutes.

"It's been the same all year long," midfielder Pat Phelan told the Revolution's official website. "Teams come at us but we've let them do that. We haven't played with enough heart and passion, and it shows."