FRISCO - For the first time in three years, FC Dallas held a meaningful post-season practice on Monday night at Toyota Stadium as they prepare for Wednesday’s single elimination 2014 MLS Cup playoff wild card round match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Having already put Saturday’s loss well out of their minds, FCD is relishing the opportunity to host the all-important one-game playoff for the right to host Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday night.
“[It means] a lot, after three years I finally got here,” defender Matt Hedges said Monday evening. “It was a lot of work, but if we don’t win this game then what’s the point? We need to go out on Wednesday and get a result.”
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FCD’s opponent is certainly a familiar one as three of Dallas’ last 14 games of the season were against Vancouver with the sides splitting the games with one win, one draw & one defeat. The matches were hard fought and even saw a bit of a pushing match after Vancouver’s 2-0 win at BC Place just a few weeks ago.
“We’re very competitive, no one likes to lose and you can see the rivalry on the field in all three games,” said Victor Ulloa. “We had an incident here, but that’s just the intensity that we bring. We’re ready to win. We know they’re a hot team, but they’re going to come here and we’re going to [battle] on Wednesday night.”
Regardless of the opponent, FC Dallas knows that if they play the way they’re capable of playing, they’ve proven to be nearly unbeatable at home. Prior to Saturday’s loss to Portland, Oscar Pareja’s side had reeled off a franchise record eight straight home wins including triumphs over Vancouver, RSL, Seattle and Los Angeles.
Full 2014 MLS Cup Playoff Schedule
“It’s important to do it in front of our fans,” Pareja said of hosting the wild card round match. “I think we have, in some way, to redeem ourselves from our last performance and we know we can do better. Overall, we look back and this group has been very good at home. I have to give credit to the players who have put in great performances in front of the fans and I hope we can repeat it here in such an important game.”
Indeed, Pareja knows first-hand the importance of this match. The long-time Dallas legend certainly played his fair share of knockout matches for FCD and hopes this is the first of many playoff games as the leader of this team.
“It comes with the smell of the autumn,” Pareja said poetically about the playoffs. “It’s all those things that bring memories. Seriously, I go outside and the smell of the season and it just reminds me of battles from that time. I’m proud to see our boys now to have that experience, it’s going to be there.”
As for the quick turnaround from Saturday night, Pareja sees the positives and knows what’s on the line on Wednesday night.
“The short time to prepare you can take it either way,” said Pareja. “You can see it as a challenge because you need to prepare, but you can see it as a good thing after a game like Saturday. I always see the white wall instead of the dark dot in the wall. I think it’s beautiful, beautiful, playoff time. This is it. This is what we’re here for.”
READ: Looking back at previous meetings between FCD & Vancouver in 2014
Just one practice remains for FC Dallas before starting their journey against Vancouver, a game that will decide whether the playoff runs ends prematurely or sends FCD into the weekend with dreams of an upset against a Sounders team they defeated handily a few weeks ago.
“It’s exciting for me and for the club and it’s huge,” said Ulloa. “We have a home game and we need to take advantage of it. We deserve this. We’ve earned this. We worked hard throughout the whole season for this. Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make the playoffs and now we’re here and now we need to push for more and go for the title.”
