• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

FC Dallas seeks first victory of season

Apr 18, 2009 - 11:41 PM By Kate Hedlin Stats Writer

Toronto (1-1-2) at FC Dallas (0-3-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT

FRISCO, Texas (AP) -- FC Dallas recorded its first point last weekend in a draw with Toronto FC. Now it looks to earn its first victory when the teams close out a home-and-home series at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday.

FC Dallas (0-3-1) was the last MLS team to pick up a point after being outscored 7-2 in three losses. It rallied for a 1-1 draw against Toronto (1-1-2) at BMO Field last Saturday as defender Pablo Ricchetti scored in the 87th minute.

"It's a fantastic feeling for us," coach Schellas Hyndman said. "We had to start somewhere with a positive note and today was our starting point."

Hyndman is still waiting for his offense to break out, but Dallas, off to the worst start in franchise history, showed some signs of turning things around last weekend. It outshot Toronto 19-10 and had seven shots on goal.

"We were trying to look for some sort of hope, and I think we got it today," midfielder Eric Avila said. "Just a point or something to get our mindset going into the next game."

Looking to further spark his team offensively, Hyndman may move Alvaro Sanchez to the attacking midfielder spot in favor of David Ferreira and Dax McCarty, who started at the position previously.

Sanchez, on loan from AD San Carlos of Costa Rica, had 10 goals and 14 assists in 44 games with San Carlos. He has yet to play in an MLS match since joining Dallas early this month.

"In the short amount of time that I've been practicing with him, I've noticed that he's very good on the ball," striker Kenny Cooper told Dallas' official Web site. "He has great vision. ... Hopefully he will help us."

Toronto has struggled in its last three games after opening the season with a win over Kansas City.

Like Dallas, Toronto hopes that it turned a corner after last Saturday's game. Dwayne De Rosario's first goal for Toronto was an encouraging sign, as the two-time MLS Cup MVP joined his hometown team in a December trade with Houston.

"The first goal is the toughest to get sometimes," said De Rosario, who has four shots on goal this season. "I'm glad to get it out of the way."

De Rosario, though, was limited in practice this week because of a tight hamstring suffered in last weekend's game. He's listed as questionable.

"I will take it day by day," he said Wednesday. "I will try it again the day before the game and hopefully it will be fine and I will be ready for Sunday."

This will be the third meeting between the clubs at Pizza Hut Park, with Dallas leading 1-0-1.