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FCD’s Cunningham Nets Four In Romp Of Wizards
It was a sorry night for the Kansas City Wizards who were absolutely undone by the calculated finishing of Jeff Cunningham and FC Dallas.
Aug 1, 2009 11:34:31 PM
The big news around Pizza Hut Park going into this one was the departure of FC Dallas’ all-time leading scorer Kenny Cooper for TSV 1860 Munich in Germany.
He would not be missed in this one.
Stepping into his shoes was Jeff Cunningham, a man who you could certainly not call goal-shy. Before the match, Cunningham ranked fourth on the list of all-time MLS goal-scorers, only three behind former Dallas player, Jason Kreis.
It wouldn’t be that way for long as Cunningham’s performance in this one was something to behold.
First Half
It was an exciting first half from start to finish between the two clubs, with the action picking up almost immediately after the initial tap.
The home side got the first real chance when a corner was played into the box in the 3rd minute and met nicely by the head of Kyle Davies who nodded it into the ground and forced a nice save by Wizards keeper Kevin Hartman off the bounce.
Kansas City would not be outdone as directly following the corner, they broke on the counterattack and almost saw their main striker, Josh Wolff, slot home the opener. Herculez Gomez took the ball down the right and played a nice ball into Wolff, who wasn’t able to get a good connection on it and tapped it just wide of the post.
It was Wolff again in the 11th minute who this time set up the Wizards best chance. Moving swiftly down the right flank, Wolff utilized a lovely cutback to buy some time then kept his head up and crossed the ball into a streaking Davy Arnaud who headed it wide. He probably should have done better.
Wolff and co. kept up the pressure as the first half opened up and really looked like they’d be the team to strike first in the inter-conference match. It was not to be however as Dallas began to take control of things at the 30 minute mark.
At the center of it all was Jeff Cunningham who looked destined to score on a few occasions. His first chance, which actually went in but was called back for offsides demonstrated some lovely interchange play by FCD who behind the skill of Dave van den Bergh were able to play the ball into the box to an offsides Cunningham who had already tapped it home.
Only eight minutes later in the 38th, Cunningham got it right and was able to open the scoring for the home team. David Ferreira slotted a lovely through ball to a streaking Atiba Harris on the right wing. Going in unmarked, Harris unselfishly passed it across the area to Cunningham at the far post who easily directed it home for the one-goal lead. Truly a memorable team goal.
Four minutes following the goal, Dallas extended their lead with some more crafty and efficient passing. A force for most of the match, Brek Shea put in a great cross to Ferreira who timed his run perfectly and was left unmarked at the near post. With a cheeky flick off the outside of his boot, the ball scorched the back of the net to double Dallas’ lead going into the break.
Second Half
Determined to take something from the match, Kansas City were on the offensive as the second stanza opened up. Spear-headed by Davy Arnaud, the Wizards showed energy and pace in the early stages.
In the 48th minute, Arnaud found himself in some space on the ball at the top of the box. That situation usually warrants a go at goal, and that’s what Arnaud did. Lovely placed shot was fired in on Dario Sala, who was able to push it wide of the net.
The pressure was kept up by the Wizards into the middle part of the second half and they seemed destined to get one back as the game pushed on.
That momentum was soon dashed as Wizards defender Rauwshan McKenzie pulled Jeff Cunningham down in the area at the other end and the PK was called. Could have gone either way, but the result was a 3-0 lead for FCD after Cunningham slotted it home confidently.
The third goal really seemed to break the Wizards back, and they began to show their frustrations soon thereafter. Forward Claudio Lopez got a little cheeky with his elbow and got it a bit high on a FCD player, causing the referee to produce a straight red card.
It only got worse from there for the Wizards as FCD would drop in another three goals to extend their lead to a gaudy 6-0.
The fourth came from, who else, Jeff Cunningham who latched on to a flighted ball from Brek Shea and hammered into the net on the volley for a hattrick. Three minutes later in the 78th minute, Santiago Hirsig played a lazy ball back to his keeper Hartman that was picked off by Ferreira who was able to slot it home to make it five.
To close things out was Cunningham who took a rather rudimentary shot on net that Hartman was able to deflect but not stop, and he had to watch as the ball agonizingly rolled slowly by him into the net.
Following their amazing drubbing of Kansas City, Dallas are set to welcome their cross-state rivals and Western Conference leaders, the Houston Dynamo to town this Thursday.
As for the Wizards, they head home to CommunityAmerica Ballpark for their next match, where they’ll welcome the always tricky Chicago Fire next Sunday.
Shane Evans is an Associate Editor of Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
He would not be missed in this one.
Stepping into his shoes was Jeff Cunningham, a man who you could certainly not call goal-shy. Before the match, Cunningham ranked fourth on the list of all-time MLS goal-scorers, only three behind former Dallas player, Jason Kreis.
It wouldn’t be that way for long as Cunningham’s performance in this one was something to behold.
First Half
It was an exciting first half from start to finish between the two clubs, with the action picking up almost immediately after the initial tap.
The home side got the first real chance when a corner was played into the box in the 3rd minute and met nicely by the head of Kyle Davies who nodded it into the ground and forced a nice save by Wizards keeper Kevin Hartman off the bounce.
Kansas City would not be outdone as directly following the corner, they broke on the counterattack and almost saw their main striker, Josh Wolff, slot home the opener. Herculez Gomez took the ball down the right and played a nice ball into Wolff, who wasn’t able to get a good connection on it and tapped it just wide of the post.
It was Wolff again in the 11th minute who this time set up the Wizards best chance. Moving swiftly down the right flank, Wolff utilized a lovely cutback to buy some time then kept his head up and crossed the ball into a streaking Davy Arnaud who headed it wide. He probably should have done better.
Wolff and co. kept up the pressure as the first half opened up and really looked like they’d be the team to strike first in the inter-conference match. It was not to be however as Dallas began to take control of things at the 30 minute mark.
At the center of it all was Jeff Cunningham who looked destined to score on a few occasions. His first chance, which actually went in but was called back for offsides demonstrated some lovely interchange play by FCD who behind the skill of Dave van den Bergh were able to play the ball into the box to an offsides Cunningham who had already tapped it home.
Only eight minutes later in the 38th, Cunningham got it right and was able to open the scoring for the home team. David Ferreira slotted a lovely through ball to a streaking Atiba Harris on the right wing. Going in unmarked, Harris unselfishly passed it across the area to Cunningham at the far post who easily directed it home for the one-goal lead. Truly a memorable team goal.
Four minutes following the goal, Dallas extended their lead with some more crafty and efficient passing. A force for most of the match, Brek Shea put in a great cross to Ferreira who timed his run perfectly and was left unmarked at the near post. With a cheeky flick off the outside of his boot, the ball scorched the back of the net to double Dallas’ lead going into the break.
Second Half
Determined to take something from the match, Kansas City were on the offensive as the second stanza opened up. Spear-headed by Davy Arnaud, the Wizards showed energy and pace in the early stages.
In the 48th minute, Arnaud found himself in some space on the ball at the top of the box. That situation usually warrants a go at goal, and that’s what Arnaud did. Lovely placed shot was fired in on Dario Sala, who was able to push it wide of the net.
The pressure was kept up by the Wizards into the middle part of the second half and they seemed destined to get one back as the game pushed on.
That momentum was soon dashed as Wizards defender Rauwshan McKenzie pulled Jeff Cunningham down in the area at the other end and the PK was called. Could have gone either way, but the result was a 3-0 lead for FCD after Cunningham slotted it home confidently.
The third goal really seemed to break the Wizards back, and they began to show their frustrations soon thereafter. Forward Claudio Lopez got a little cheeky with his elbow and got it a bit high on a FCD player, causing the referee to produce a straight red card.
It only got worse from there for the Wizards as FCD would drop in another three goals to extend their lead to a gaudy 6-0.
The fourth came from, who else, Jeff Cunningham who latched on to a flighted ball from Brek Shea and hammered into the net on the volley for a hattrick. Three minutes later in the 78th minute, Santiago Hirsig played a lazy ball back to his keeper Hartman that was picked off by Ferreira who was able to slot it home to make it five.
To close things out was Cunningham who took a rather rudimentary shot on net that Hartman was able to deflect but not stop, and he had to watch as the ball agonizingly rolled slowly by him into the net.
Following their amazing drubbing of Kansas City, Dallas are set to welcome their cross-state rivals and Western Conference leaders, the Houston Dynamo to town this Thursday.
As for the Wizards, they head home to CommunityAmerica Ballpark for their next match, where they’ll welcome the always tricky Chicago Fire next Sunday.
Shane Evans is an Associate Editor of Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
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