FRISCO, Texas – One lackluster match at Portland, and FC Dallas went from being the hottest team in MLS to one with a few questions to answer, especially in the goals against category.
If nothing else, the depth that Dallas had in goal coming into the season dissipated a bit when former Chivas USA standout Dan Kennedy picked up a back injury before the team’s March 21 game at Philadelphia.
And according to head coach Oscar Pareja, the team is not rushing Kennedy back into the team.
“We always think for the length of the season,” Pareja said in discussing the pace of getting Kennedy back into training. “We want to make sure that he is strong enough. If we need to wait a couple more days, we do, but we’re in a good direction with him.”
Kennedy did make it back to practice on Thursday, but only for a light session, making it highly unlikely that he’ll be available for Friday’s clash against the Colorado Rapids (7 pm ET, UniMas). And now that the goals against average isn’t as stellar as it was prior to the Portland defeat, the lack of a proven back-up – 19-year-old Jesse Gonzalez has been the team’s No. 2 in Kennedy’s absence – is a little more pronounced for FCD.
But that does not concern FC Dallas starting ‘keeper Chris Seitz. For him, the lessons from last weekend’s game have already been digested.
“We’ve put Portland behind us,” Seitz said. “We watched the video. There’s a lot to take from it. A lot of good things, and obviously, things we can learn from. For us, we’ve taken all that in and we’re already implementing it in training.
“It’s a road game against a good team,” Seitz said. “Their record might not reflect it as of yet, but they’re going to be a good team.”
For a team that survived a 0-5-2 May in 2014 to qualify for the playoffs by the end of the year, one loss this season – especially after a 3-0-1 start – is just another game to process.
“We do the same for a loss as for a win,” Seitz said. “We always pick ourselves apart. We’re probably our toughest critics.
“We have the same group in place in terms of coaches, in terms of philosophy. Nothing is changing. Every game, there is always information that we can learn from.”
Seitz said that Dallas is eager to get back on the field against the winless Rapids, who, after a 0-1-3 start with zero goals scored so far this year, will be desperate for points on Friday.
“It’s a team that is trying to find themselves,” Seitz said. “They have nothing to lose. They are going to be pushing numbers forward and they are going to be flying.
“After a tough week last week, we’re going to do the exact same thing.”
