FRISCO, Texas - Sometimes stats can tell you everything you need to know about the way a player’s season is going.
But sometimes there's more to the story than numbers can tell; as is the case of Kenny Cooper.
For just the third time since returning to MLS in 2011, it’s been six games since Cooper’s last official goal, but that hardly tells the story. The big forward played an integral part in last week’s draw at Vancouver, seeming to head Michel’s ninth-minute corner into the net, a tally that was curiously taken away from Cooper and ruled an own goal.
“The important thing is that it was a goal for the team,” said Cooper. “It’s such a funny play and I’ve watched it so many times, it’s hard to tell from watching what exactly happened on the play to be honest.”
Head coach Schellas Hyndman was a little less diplomatic about his thoughts on the scorer’s ruling, but went on to point out that Cooper also scored a fantastic header in New England perhaps incorrectly ruled offside. Add those two goals to his current tally and the forward would be tied for top scorer on the team.
“Who’s our leading goal scorer, Blas [Perez] with three? That’s a big difference, one and three,” Hyndman said with a sly grin. “No, I don’t worry about it.”
In truth, there’s hardly much to worry about for the FC Dallas offense right now, statistically the best in MLS with 1.66 goals per game as well as the only team in the league to have not been shutout this year. Whether those goals come from Cooper, Perez or any other of his teammates, it doesn’t matter to the big forward as long as they find the back of the net.
“The most important thing is the team winning and doing well,” said Cooper. “I want to give my best every day and do my best to contribute to that.”
