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Sounders-FC Dallas Preview

May 15, 2009 - 6:00 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Seattle (4-2-2) at FC Dallas (1-6-1), 8:30 p.m. EDT

Despite being undefeated in their last three matches, the Seattle Sounders feel they could have made much more of those opportunities.

After settling for ties its last two matches while a man down, expansion club Seattle looks for three points Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park as it faces a struggling FC Dallas team for the first time.

Seattle (4-2-2) was targeting its second straight home victory Sunday, but after James Riley picked up a red card in the 58th minute, it held on for a 1-all tie with Los Angeles.

"It's unfortunate. I take full responsibility," Riley told the Sounders' official Web site. "Obviously people have their different interpretations, but I'm disappointed that I let my team play (a man down) for 30 minutes when we let two points slip away."

Riley will serve his one-game suspension Saturday, giving coach Sigi Schmid a number of options for replacing the defender, including Evan Brown, Tyson Wahl and Patrick Ianni.

"We've had different guys who have played outside back," Schmid said. "... So there's different ways to look at it for us."

Seattle, 1-0-2 in its last three, took a 1-0 lead over the Galaxy in the 22nd minute on Sebastien Le Toux's first MLS goal. After coming off the bench the previous two games, Le Toux was inserted into the lineup as leading scorer Fredy Montero served a suspension for getting a red card in the Sounders' 1-all tie with Chicago on May 2.

"My only operative is to win games," Le Toux said. "If I score or I don't score I want to win and take the three points."

Seattle has just four goals in its last five matches after outscoring its first three opponents 7-0.

Dallas (1-6-1) looks to snap a three-match slide with its second straight victory at home. Since defeating Toronto FC 3-2 on April 19 at Pizza Hut Park, Dallas has scored just once in three matches.

Last Saturday's 1-0 loss to Houston was the third time this season Dallas has been shut out.

"It is a difficult environment. It was a great job by Houston," Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said after his team fell to 0-7-2 all-time in Houston. "Very difficult environment, but I thought our guys battled very well. It was very difficult for us to get a grip of the game or control of the ball. It was disappointing."

Ray Burse started again in goal for Dallas with Dario Sala expected to be out up to six weeks with a bone bruise in his left knee.

"He's not at the point where he's making a difference in the game but that's the next challenge for him," Hyndman said. "This is a great opportunity for Ray to establish himself as a first team 'keeper in MLS soccer."

Sounders goalie Kasey Keller is 4-0-2 and leads MLS with a 0.32 goals-against average.

Dallas and Seattle meet again Oct. 24 at Qwest Field in the teams' regular-season finale.