COLUMBUS -- Jeff Cunningham was discarded by Toronto FC, but the fourth-leading scorer in MLS history proved that he still has the scoring touch to brighten an otherwise disappointing match for FC Dallas.
Cunningham scored his 100th career goal in the 35th minute of his Dallas debut, but his former team rallied for a pair of goals after halftime and the Columbus Crew won 2-1 to snap FCD's five-game unbeaten streak.
"I have a lot of mixed emotions tonight. Yeah, the goal was there and the milestone, too, but I feel disappointed for the team," Cunningham said.
The striker was one of two newcomers in the lineup for FCD. Dutch midfielder Victor Sikora was signed last week and started on the left of midfield.
While the new blood helped spark Dallas in the first half, the Crew got goals in the 62nd minute by Brian Carroll and the 65th from Brad Evans to end Dallas' 265-minute shutout streak.
"It was a great game for the spectators. It was two teams that played pretty intense," Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said. "We had an outstanding first half. I almost thought we were the home team for awhile. Unfortunately, we were unable to score more than one goal.
"We have not lost a game this year when we had the lead so that was a little bit of a difficult time for the players. They're heads are a little bit down but I'm really proud of the boys. We fought all the way to the end. It was a good match for FC Dallas, it just wasn't good enough."
Dallas had ample opportunities in the first 45 minutes with Cunningham and Kenny Cooper looking like longtime teammates instead of having just four practices together. It was all Dallas from the outset due to the play of the pair.
Cooper, second in the league behind Landon Donovan with 13 goals, had four of the team's six shots in the first 22 minutes but it was a service from the left flank that nearly resulted in the initial goal.
Cunningham's header from eight yards was cleared off the line by Crew defender Chad Marshall and the rebound attempt by Andre Rocha was deflected wide. Then in the 23rd minute, Cunningham broke past the defense and had the ball on his foot at the penalty spot but goalkeeper Will Hesmer came out to make a sliding tackle.
"Gosh, he's a proven goal scorer," Cooper said of Cunningham. "His statistics speak for themselves. We're lucky to have him."
Columbus was the only team in MLS that Cunningham had not scored against in his illustrious career, but there was an excuse because he spent seven seasons with the Crew before being traded in 2005. He made amends to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Cunningham got his left foot on the ball as he charged toward the net and redirected a cross from the right side by Adrian Serioux just as Hesmer made a play for the ball two yards off the goal line. "He's only been in training since Tuesday but we decided to go ahead and start him. He's a good player, a professional player," Hyndman said. "He had an outstanding first half getting behind the defense and creating opportunities. He's going to be a good player for us."
For his part, Cunningham was a bundle of nerves prior to the match.
"I almost threw up this morning, I was that nervous," he said. "It was the most nervous I've been since my rookie season. A lot of emotions were involved tonight. Coming to a new team, the expectations are there.
"I had a terrible time with my last club (Toronto) and the expectations our high to come in here and contribute immediately and playing in front of my family in Columbus and I had a difficult time the last few months, everything was weighing on me. I got through the match but unfortunately I wasn't able to help the team win but it's up from here."
Cunningham, whose brother lives in Columbus and was at the game along with more than 20 relatives, is no stranger to Crew fans. Acquired last week in a trade with Toronto, he scored 62 of his goals for the Crew from 1998-2004. He is tied with Brian McBride, now of the Chicago Fire, atop the Crew's all-time goal list.
It was the 35th goal Cunningham scored in Columbus and the 30th in Crew Stadium (the others came in Ohio Stadium in 1998). However, it was his first in Columbus since Oct. 2, 2004, a stretch of five games.
"It was personal for him," Hyndman said.
Cunningham would rather have had a win. "I'm here to help the team win," he said, "so the result tonight was not what we wanted."
VfB put on strong performance
Crew rally in second half to beat FCD
Bundesliga: top for goals
