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FC Dallas Play For Pride, RSL Left In Playoff Peril
Though Dallas has less than a faint hope for the playoffs, the players are relishing the spoiler role, playing well to deny Real Salt Lake any points in their playoff chase.
Sep 27, 2009 2:30:43 AM
FRISCO, TX -- The Real Salt Lake players had already deserted their locker room by the time the doors were opened to the media.
After getting thumped 3-0 Saturday night by FC Dallas and losing to Houston Dynamo 3-2 on Sept. 19, it was apparent by Real Salt Lake’s quick and quiet departure that they were all too ready to get out of Texas.
Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis was available for a few comments after the game and it was evident that he was vastly disappointed with his players and their performance.
“I think that they [the players] tended to feel sorry for themselves,” Kreis said. He went on to say that the players’ reaction to FC Dallas’ quick first goal was poor.
With only three MLS games left on the schedule, Real Salt Lake’s playoff chances look slim. Their next game isn’t for two weeks and Kreis indicated that for his team, that time off would not be fun.
“If I was a player I would not want to be on my team right now because it is going to be a long, long two and a half weeks.” Kreis said putting extra emphasis on the second “long.”
Kreis won’t count his team out of the playoffs yet, though.
“There’s points on the table that will get us in and I’m fighting for them,” Kreis said in his closing statement.
One of the stars for FC Dallas Saturday night was midfielder Dave van den Bergh who had two assists, giving him ten on the year.
“I had to go outside, and he [Real Salt Lake defender Robbie Russell] is only going to give me one lane and he gave me the harder one, kudos to Russell, but you know David [Ferreira] kept his run going and finished that off magnificently,” van den Bergh said about his second assist.
FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman was very impressed with his squad Saturday night, commenting on how he thought it was one of his team’s best performances of the year.
“We played very inspired tonight; it was one of our better games as far as playing from the start to the end," Hyndman said. "That was one of the better games as far as team spirit. Players played hard for each other and covered up for each other. It shows we’re getting closer and closer to where we want to be."
Jeff Cunningham found the back of the net twice Saturday night, putting him in a tie for first for the Golden Boot award, ahead of the Colorado Rapids' Conor Casey in the assist tie-breaker.
“I thought Jeff was outstanding again tonight,” Hyndman said about his star forward.
Dallas lead 2-0 at halftime tonight just like they did on July 24, when they played at Real Salt Lake. However, they let Real Salt Lake come back and win the game, something they were determined not to do tonight.
“That was one of the messages we talked about, don’t let that happen again. And I thought we stayed pretty compact, not giving them too many chances in the second half,” Hyndman said.
Hyndman would go onto say he thought his team was playing their best soccer of the season.
Though both teams are now on track to miss the playoffs, Dallas seems to be on an upswing, while Real Salt Lake's late fade leaves them in slump.
Scott Guthrie, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
After getting thumped 3-0 Saturday night by FC Dallas and losing to Houston Dynamo 3-2 on Sept. 19, it was apparent by Real Salt Lake’s quick and quiet departure that they were all too ready to get out of Texas.
Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis was available for a few comments after the game and it was evident that he was vastly disappointed with his players and their performance.
“I think that they [the players] tended to feel sorry for themselves,” Kreis said. He went on to say that the players’ reaction to FC Dallas’ quick first goal was poor.
With only three MLS games left on the schedule, Real Salt Lake’s playoff chances look slim. Their next game isn’t for two weeks and Kreis indicated that for his team, that time off would not be fun.
“If I was a player I would not want to be on my team right now because it is going to be a long, long two and a half weeks.” Kreis said putting extra emphasis on the second “long.”
Kreis won’t count his team out of the playoffs yet, though.
“There’s points on the table that will get us in and I’m fighting for them,” Kreis said in his closing statement.
One of the stars for FC Dallas Saturday night was midfielder Dave van den Bergh who had two assists, giving him ten on the year.
“I had to go outside, and he [Real Salt Lake defender Robbie Russell] is only going to give me one lane and he gave me the harder one, kudos to Russell, but you know David [Ferreira] kept his run going and finished that off magnificently,” van den Bergh said about his second assist.
FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman was very impressed with his squad Saturday night, commenting on how he thought it was one of his team’s best performances of the year.
“We played very inspired tonight; it was one of our better games as far as playing from the start to the end," Hyndman said. "That was one of the better games as far as team spirit. Players played hard for each other and covered up for each other. It shows we’re getting closer and closer to where we want to be."
Jeff Cunningham found the back of the net twice Saturday night, putting him in a tie for first for the Golden Boot award, ahead of the Colorado Rapids' Conor Casey in the assist tie-breaker.
“I thought Jeff was outstanding again tonight,” Hyndman said about his star forward.
Dallas lead 2-0 at halftime tonight just like they did on July 24, when they played at Real Salt Lake. However, they let Real Salt Lake come back and win the game, something they were determined not to do tonight.
“That was one of the messages we talked about, don’t let that happen again. And I thought we stayed pretty compact, not giving them too many chances in the second half,” Hyndman said.
Hyndman would go onto say he thought his team was playing their best soccer of the season.
Though both teams are now on track to miss the playoffs, Dallas seems to be on an upswing, while Real Salt Lake's late fade leaves them in slump.
Scott Guthrie, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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