FRISCO - The trophy hunt for FC Dallas hits overdrive this week as Oscar Pareja’s side returns to Frisco for a crucial three-game homestand.
Having secured a crucial three points in Houston that puts FCD five points clear at the top of the standings, Dallas is in a great position, but they know that it only gets tougher from here.
“It funnels down to the last third of the season and we’re right in the hunt of it where we want to be,” said Chris Seitz. “But just because we’re there doesn’t mean we’ve done our job.”
The job for FCD, as is constantly stressed by Pareja, is the next match. That will be Saturday in a Western Conference Final re-match against Portland. The Timbers are the only team that has not won on the road this season and sit perilously in the sixth and final playoff spot three points ahead of San Jose.
“We know Portland is dangerous. They’re missing a few players and so are we but they’ve got plenty of guys that can hurt us,” said Seitz. “We’re going to prepare and know we’re facing a team that’s hungry and in need of some points, so it’s going to take a really professional performance on Saturday.”
FC Dallas takes an 18-match home unbeaten streak spanning over a year into Saturday’s match but without Kellyn Acosta, Tesho Akindele, Carlos Gruezo, Aubrey David and Maynor Figueroa on international duty, they’ll need everyone to step up.
“It’s a big opportunity for sure. Being at home and doing something with this group that hasn’t been done before,” said Pareja. “But I think we need to just keep facing each game the way we have done it one game at a time, we’re only thinking about Portland.”