FRISCO, Texas -- FC Dallas got the first win of the Schellas Hyndman era earlier this week when they defeated USL First Division side Miami FC in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match. However, FCD still seeks its first win for their new coach in MLS play and the next chance comes on Friday when the Kansas City Wizards visit Pizza Hut Park.
FCD's last game in league action was last Thursday in Houston, when they played the two-time defending league champs to a 1-1 draw and claimed "El Capitan" in the process. The Hoops will be playing their fourth game in just eight days. On Sunday, they faced Chivas de Guadalajara in Frisco and fell 2-1 to the Mexican side. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel as after Friday, the Hoops won't have another league match until July 19 against Colorado.
The Wizards come off a 1-0 win against Real Salt Lake last Saturday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark where they were a bit fortunate to claim the win after getting an own goal in the 89th minute. Kansas City is just 1-2-2 in their last five matches and only 1-3-3 away from home.
"They're not having the season that they thought they would have," Hyndman said of the Wizards. "We're coming into the middle of the season and they have the opportunity to turn things around. The win the other night against Real (Salt Lake) off a late goal does nothing but blossom and give them belief. I think that they will be coming in here with high energy and trying to steal another game."
Friday will be the first look that FCD will get at Argentine striker Claudio Lopez, whom the Wizards signed in the offseason as their designated player.
"I know that he's very dangerous and a good finisher," FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala said of his countryman. "He's really good at crossing. Kansas City is going to try to start off the second half of the season with a win and I don't want it to be against us."
Right back Drew Moor agreed. "He's a good player," he said. "He's somebody that I've been watching for a long time because he's been around. He's been on some great Valencia teams. I've seen him in the Champions League and in the World Cup. He has some great experience and is definitely somebody we need to keep an eye on. We can't give him too much space because if he has that, then he's going to pick somebody out. He's been very dangerous for them and has scored some goals. He's definitely someone to keep an eye on."
FCD defensive midfielder Pablo Ricchetti could return to the starting 11 after missing the Chivas and Miami FC matches with a foot injury. He went through a full session on Thursday without issue and looks ready to go but is still listed as questionable.
"Pablo was out here today (Wednesday)," Hyndman said. "I'm watching him very closely. He wanted to do some exercises with us. I pulled him out because for me, Friday is more important. I put him in a different type of exercise and the word to me was that he looked fine. He wants to play on Friday, which is the injured/hurt mentality. It's great to have players with the mentality that you can count on me."
However, the jury is still out on fellow midfielder Dax McCarty, who continues to experience complications while recovering. The North Carolina product went through a full training session on Thursday and might or might not be ready to play substantial minutes. Like Ricchetti, he is listed as questionable.
"I'm kind of going through a day-to-day with Dax (McCarty) because I think there is more than one injury," Hyndman said. "It's recovering from the sports hernia and maybe he came back a little too quickly. Now his back is strained and he has lower back strain. If you've never had a back injury before, it's probably one of the worst things you can have because every time you take a step, your body is trying to prepare to protect you and in the athletic world, you take quite a few steps. I love his attitude and the fact that he's a competitor who wants to be back out there. But we're going to have to monitor him and take good care of him."
One player who will be out is veteran midfielder Bobby Rhine, who left the second half of the Chivas game with an ankle injury.
"I think that was a pretty bad sprain on his ankle," Hyndman said. "The word I get is that it could be two to three weeks. Yes (he is still on crutches). It's a real shame because he's a really good player for us but just as important, he's a great locker room player who keeps players positive and all those types of things help team chemistry."
Midfielder Arturo Alvarez will also be out with a quadriceps injury suffered in Sunday's match with Chivas.
The Wizards match will officially start the second half of the regular season for FCD and Moor, for one, realizes how important that is.
"Friday is an extremely important game for us," he said. "Being back at home for the first time in a while makes it more important. It's an important stretch and a lot of guys got to play and got valuable experience, which is good. It's good to get guys who don't play as much into the games because there are always injuries and fatigue."
Moor also knows that K.C. has always been a tough draw for the Hoops.
"They're a tough team," he said. "We haven't played them yet this year. The last few years, it's been kind of back and forth. They're led by Jimmy Conrad, who has been with the national team for a while now and have some very good young players in the midfield and up front. They're dangerous and we need to keep an eye on them. The important thing is that we come out and play our game by moving the ball well and taking our chances when we get them. If we can do that, then we'll come out with three points."
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