By Will Martin
Having just begun a vacation for the next week one of the first things this writer does to decompress is pull out the musical archives kept within the computer in the last decade. Back in 2004 I went through a phase of furious CD burning for long road trips.
With a road trip to Houston later this day I was going through a list of CD’s and I randomly picked a song from a Long Island Band originally known as Soft White Underbelly.
This struck me as appropriate in reviewing what has been one of the best starts in teams history. FC Dallas continued their winning ways with a thrilling 1-0 victory over the kids from New England. One quick look at the MLS Standings and North Texas smiles at the sight of 1st place. Two points better than the only team that defeated them (Chivas USA) and four better than their next home opponent (L.A. Galaxy).
Much had been made about the defensive secondary of New England. It appeared that Jackson would put FC Dallas in the lead for good in the 14th minute except for Bobby Shuttleworth who sneered, ‘No, sir!’
Kenny Cooper also believed he had found some top shelf glory in the 63th minute…until the refs ruled an offside had taken place. So the match continued in Massachusetts. The Revolution had been shutout twice in their previous three games. Coming in at 1-1-1 under second year coach Jay Heaps this New England team is in construction mode aided by the duo of defenders Andrew Farrell and Jose Goncalves.
One thing FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman has preached to anyone who will listen? Spread the field and allow for scoring chances. This has brought 6 points to the Frisco squad in the last two weeks.
Pay-dirt was finally achieved in the 93rd minute when Blas Perez used his head on a David Ferreira chip shot to put the ball past New England’s goal keeper and a thrilling and welcomed 1-0 road win.
FC Dallas now sitting at 4-1 and continue their road show north of the border with Toronto FC on April 6th for a 3pm start before returning home for a night game on April 13th with the L.A. Galaxy. Any points gathered early will bode well as the season goes forward.
Raul Fernandez once again stellar between the posts. This 2013 team looks to have alot of moxie than teams in years past. More importantly through the first five matches of 2013, FC Dallas is off to the best start in franchise history this season. FC Dallas went 4-1-0 in the month of March and is tied for the league lead with 12 points earned.
The club’s previous best start came in 2006, when Dallas went 3-0-2 through the first five games. Despite its undefeated start, the ’06 team earned one less point through its first five than the 2013 team has.
Except for a bad second half in California, near perfection in the month of March. Now here’s to April and more points. Oh yes…
That CD and song I was listening to yesterday while prepping for a road trip? ‘Shooting Sharks’ by Blue Oyster Cult-the latter day Soft White Underbelly. The song from 1983. And the album title?
‘The Revolution By Night’. FC Dallas did so by day. Toronto is next.