FRISCO, Texas -- The last time FC Dallas scored four goals in a league game was 60 games ago, on July 29, 2006 when the Hoops exploded for a 4-1 win against Colorado at Pizza Hut Park. FCD can now add Sunday night's 4-0 win against the Los Angeles Galaxy to that list.
FCD got a pair of goals from Kenny Cooper, who now has goals in five of his side's last six games, plus one goal each from Dominic Oduro and Abe Thompson in the first league win for the Hoops under new head coach Schellas Hyndman.
"It was obviously an outstanding performance by FC Dallas," Hyndman said. "We played a 4-4-2 structure and I thought the players worked extremely hard playing in the structure -- we worked on both sides of the ball."
The outcome was much better for the Hoops than the last time the two MLS Western Conference sides met. That was May 18 when the Galaxy handed the Hoops a 4-1 defeat, a setback that cost then-head coach Steve Morrow his job the next day.
Hyndman definitely used that result as motivation for his team on Sunday.
"The players were very focused on getting a good result after the last time playing LA here was an embarrassment," he said. "We had a lot of fans question what FC Dallas was all about. Very seldom in life do you get a chance to come back and redeem yourselves. Today, I thought they did a fantastic job of coming back and playing for their pride and their community. The players all played for each other and we did something that we haven't done very often, score first and score again."
The bottom line for the FCD coach was that his team outworked LA and that was what contributed most to the win.
"I think it was a game that we deserved to win," Hyndman said. "We worked very hard from the start to the end, got on them early and stayed on them."
Cooper agreed that Sunday's victory was key for the Hoops, who won for the first time in the month of July.
"It was a big win for us," he said. "Coming into the game, we were all aware of the last result. Coach Schellas told us before the game that very seldom in life would we get a chance to redeem ourselves and we had that opportunity today to play in front of a sold-out stadium against a very good Los Angeles Galaxy team that is playing very well."
For the FCD striker, who is tied for second in league scoring with 11 goals, the result was a testament to the hard work he and his teammates have been doing since Hyndman took the helm in mid-June.
"It feels very good to walk away with the win," Cooper said. "I thought we did the things that the coaches have asked of us. I feel that Schellas has been making a good impact on us on a daily basis. It's nice to show that in a result like today."
For much of the last few weeks, rumors have been swirling about a potential transfer to Europe for Cooper. However, the FC Dallas striker wasn't about to address those rumors and instead wanted to enjoy the win. "I don't know (if this was my last game here)," Cooper said. "I hope not. In all honesty, I'd rather keep this focused on the game. I don't want to take away from our coach's first victory and a great effort by the team. I'm proud to be part of that. I don't know what my future holds. I love being here but I want to focus on our great win today."
Hyndman was especially happy to get his first MLS win even though it took him five games to get there.
"It's wonderful," he said. "The only thing that's really sad is that both my wife and daughter aren't here. I would love for them to be part of this excitement. This has been pretty exciting."
FCD played in a 4-4-2 system for the first time since a 1-1 draw at Houston on June 26 and the shift in formations was a success.
"It was outstanding," Hyndman said. "This is what we all want to do, is win. We train very hard, want to find success and make a difference. I just felt that we had to get more people involved in the attack instead of just two. It's hard to ask players to do things when you don't show them and design it for them."
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