FRISCO, Texas – It’s not always “just another game.”
After FC Dallas
saw their season end
at the hands of the Seattle Sounders just four and a half months ago in the Western Conference semifinals, the squad has a little extra edge in preparation this week for Saturday's Toyota Stadium showdown (8:30 pm ET,
MLS LIVE
)
“Everyone knows in the back of their head that this was the team that knocked us out of the playoffs last year,” Dallas captain
Matt Hedges
said. “So there’s a little extra motivation, a little extra energy this week in training.”
But that hardly means Dallas are intimidated by the defending Supporters' Shield champions. After all, last year's playoff series was decided by the away-goals rule after both games ended in draws – the first time an MLS playoff series has been decided that way in the first year the league has opted to use that tiebreaker.
“We played them pretty good last year,” center back
Zach Loyd
said. “It was just unfortunate that we were on the other end of the stick. But for us, it’s a new season. Our house. We want three points.”
Both Hedges and Loyd have been key contributors to a defense that is off to an excellent start, allowing only one goal in three games. Facing the Sounders, however, who have scored five goals in only two games, is the unit’s toughest test to date.
Although US national team captain and Sounders striker
Clint Dempsey
is expected to miss the game due to a hamstring injury, Dallas do not expect Dempsey's availability to affect either team's game plan.
“I don’t think it changes anything,” Loyd said. “I know they have a really good relationship up top in Seattle, but they have other guys on the bench waiting for their opportunity. So they’re going to come in hungry and looking to score goals.”
With right back Atiba Harris and left back Moises Hernandez both on international duty this week (although Harris is set to return in time for Saturday's match), the FC Dallas backline could have a different look on Saturday, but the stellar defensive efforts have been attributable to more than just the defenders and goalkeeper Chris Seitz.
“I don’t necessarily think that everyone is just attackers or defenders. When you don’t have the ball, everyone defends,” Loyd said. “It’s not just the backline that’s keeping the goals against. It starts with Blas, Mauro, Fabian, all those guys helping us.”
