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FC Dallas-Dynamo Preview

May 8, 2009 - 6:07 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

FC Dallas (1-5-1) at Houston (2-2-2), 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Houston Dynamo have scored the fewest goals in the Western Conference but may be optimistic about posting a third straight victory because they're facing FC Dallas' porous defense.

Back at Robertson Stadium where it has allowed just one goal in three matches, Houston tries to move closer to regaining El Capit?n as it hosts slumping Dallas on Saturday night for the first of three regular-season meetings.

In 2006 and 2007, the Dynamo won the replica cannon awarded to the winner of this intrastate battle, but they lost it for the first time last season as FC Dallas won the tiebreaker on away goals.

This season, though, a tiebreaker will not be decided by away goals, rather by the outcomes of other matches, including the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

"Over the years, we have grown to appreciate the dislike between the two cities," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear told the team's official Web site. "I don't hate Dallas, I don't know enough about Dallas to say bad things about it ... it's one of those as the games go on, you get pulled in because of the emotion."

The way his team has played lately, Kinnear, who is 5-1-5 all-time against FC Dallas, has reason to feel confident heading into Saturday's match.

After opening the season 0-2-2, the Dynamo (2-2-2) won their second straight Sunday, 2-0 at New England, as they extended their shutout streak to 313 minutes.

It is the second-longest such streak in MLS this season, trailing Seattle's 350-minute scoreless stretch during its first three-plus matches.

"We kept the back four pretty tight, we dominated most of the match," Houston defender Geoff Cameron said.

The play of goalie Pat Onstad has been a major reason the Dynamo have allowed just five goals in six matches. He has three shutouts this season after making a save in Sunday's victory.

FC Dallas, meanwhile, is one of three teams not to record a shutout this season.

Stuart Holden scored his first goal of the season Sunday and Brian Ching notched his team-leading third as the Dynamo converted their first corner kick after 25 misses this season. Houston has scored a league-low six goals this year.

"We pride ourselves on possession," Holden said. "We have a strong midfield, we passed the ball around pretty well."

FC Dallas (1-5-1) has dropped two straight after Saturday's 2-1 loss to D.C. United. Andre Rocha gave FCD a first-half lead, but Jaime Moreno scored two unanswered goals for United.

FC Dallas has yielded an MLS-high 14 goals this season.

"We've been able to address a lot of the goals that have been scored on us last year from the flanks," FCD coach Schellas Hyndman told the team's official Web site. "Now we're trying to address the number of goals that come through the middle."

One of the several changes FC Dallas may implement Saturday is the return of Jeff Cunningham into the first 11, where he last was March 29 in a 2-0 loss to Chivas USA. The 32-year-old forward with 104 career MLS goals missed Saturday's loss with a strained right hamstring.

"If my number is called this weekend, I will be ready to go," Cunningham told the team's official Web site.

FC Dallas has never won in seven games at Robertson Stadium, including a 2007 playoff match.