July 4th has come to mean a great tradition of FC Dallas soccer and fireworks in Frisco and Independence Day 2013 is no different with FC Dallas prepared to host Western Conference rival Chivas USA. In addition to fireworks after the game, hopefully there will be some during for FC Dallas who look to get back in the win column for the first time since May 25. Our coverage of FC Dallas and Chivas USA is at 8 on TWCSN-TX(HD 148). Here's 10 key stats for Thursday's game:
5 times FC Dallas has hosted a 4th of July game in Frisco. FC Dallas Stadium opened in August of 2005, so in five of a possible seven years to have a 4th of July game in Frisco FC Dallas has done so. FCD has won two, lost one and tied two with a tie last year against Toronto FC 1-1. One of the 4th of July victories in Frisco was a 2007 win over Chivas USA 2-0.
52 points for FC Dallas since the return of David Ferreira last July 4th. After sitting out 13 and a half months since a broken ankle, El Torito made his triumphant return 365 days ago against Toronto FC. Since July 4, 2012 Ferreira has appeared in 32 of FCD’s 34 MLS contests and FC Dallas in those games has 13 wins, 6 losses & 13 draws for a total of 52 points. In those 32 games, Ferreira has reprised his role of setup man for the FCD attack with 15 assists, a number that would challenge for the best in MLS over a typical full season. For example, Graham Zusi led MLS in 2012 with 15 assists.
11 of Blas Perez’s 15 career MLS goals have been scored on the road after his dramatic last ditch equalizer in Philadelphia last week. This season five of the six for Blas have been scored on the road. Scoring at home would be nice since FC Dallas is about to lose Perez before they play at home again on the 13th vs. RSL as he goes off to be capped again for Panama in the Gold Cup.
Ride the FCD Express to the next FC Dallas home game!
96:26 was the time on the clock when Perez scored his famous goal against the Union. The score for Perez is the 4th latest goal in MLS history and the 2nd latest for this franchise. If you turn back the clock to 2002, Chad Deering buried an equalizer for the Burn in the 99th minute versus Columbus for the ultimate in a last chance saloon goal.
4 game winless streak for FC Dallas against Chivas USA. While Chivas has been a team that has been in a state of chaos for most of the last season and a half, FC Dallas has not been able to gain the results they should have against them. Last season, FCD and Chivas drew three matches and one of FC Dallas’ three losses this year was a March 10th defeat with a 3-1 scoreline in Los Angeles. FC Dallas’ stumble this year against Chivas was in the midst of a start where Chivas won three of their first five, for their only wins of the season.
MATCH INFORMATION: FC Dallas vs Chivas USA July 4 celebration
2 points for Chivas USA in their last 9 games since a 3-1-1 start. Chivas overall has an 11 game winless streak which includes a franchise high seven straight losses before drawing New England last Saturday 1-1.
30 players have appeared in MLS games for Chivas USA this season, with this game against FC Dallas marking their midway point of 17 games. With a change in leadership in the front office and on the touch line, Chivas has needless to say been a revolving door this season as evidenced by so much player turnover via all sorts of transactions. The number will continue to grow in the weeks ahead with the arrival of former USMNT captain Carlos Bocanegra and the expected addition of players on loan from the parent club in Guadalajara.
READ: Know Your Enemy - scouting Chivas USA with Drew Epperley
3players are in Chivas USA’s projected starting XI this week (based on their current game notes) who were in the starting XI for the March 10th Chivas win over FC Dallas. The only common players from then to now, goalkeeper Dan Kennedy and defenders Mario De Luna and Walter Vilchez.
95 MLS games in goal for Dan Kennedy in his time with Chivas USA….the most in the now nine seasons of the club. Kennedy, a SoCal native from Fullerton, passed USMNT member Brad Guzan for that distinction late last season. Kennedy has appeared in all but five games as keeper for Chivas since the start of 2011 as the only thing resembling steadiness for the Chivas lineup over that time.
WATCH: Catch all the late drama & 11 goals from June with our monthly recap video
31 goals allowed by Chivas USA this season. That as you would expect is the worst in MLS. The 31 goals let in over 16 games also equals by far the most porous on a per match basis. Chivas team GAA is 1.94, with DC United a distant second-worst at 1.59.
On paper it looks like a favorable matchup for FC Dallas, we will see if in fact it plays out that way on the pitch before a holiday crowd Thursday night. Enjoy the match and Happy 4th of July to all!
