FRISCO, Texas --- In a game where quality offensive chances were at a premium, FC Dallas midfielder Brek Shea connected on a header in the 71st minute as FCD handed Chivas USA a 1-0 defeat Saturday at Pizza Hut Park.
The win was the third straight for FCD (9-2-9), who ran their unbeaten streak to 11 games and moved within three points of second place in the Western Conference behind Real Salt Lake.
FC Dallas haven’t lost since a 1-0 setback to the LA Galaxy on May 20, and they improved to 6-1-3 at home this season.
Shea’s game-winning header drifted to the far post past Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton, who made a string of impressive saves on the night to keep FCD at bay until midway through the second half.
Jair Benitez picked up the assist on a lofty cross to the back post, where Shea popped the header back across the goalmouth for his fifth goal of the season.
FCD had the first chance of the night, when David Ferreira took an early free kick from about 30 yards out that was snuffed out by Thornton. Thornton’s finest moment came in the 54th minute, when he stretched to parry away a curving free kick from FCD striker Milton Rodriguez.
Thornton’s FCD counterpart, fellow veteran Kevin Hartman, was called upon in the 33rd minute when Chivas USA’s Dario Delgado tried to tuck a shot inside the near post. Hartman was up to the challenge, lunging to the right post to make his first save of the evening.
Hartman added another on a snap header by Michael Umaña in the 77th, and topped that with a gorgeous reaction save on Delgado one minute later.
FC Dallas veteran striker Jeff Cunningam entered the match for Rodriguez in the 58th minute but failed to score, leaving him at 128 career MLS goals, four behind all-time leader Jaime Moreno of D.C. United.
Chivas USA (5-11-4) are winless in their last three matches, and have now won just twice in 11 matches away from the Home Depot Center this season.
For full stats, visit the MLS MatchCenter.
Scoring Summary:
DAL -- Brek Shea 5 (Jair Benitez 2, David Ferreira 8) 71
Misconduct Summary:
DAL -- Atiba Harris (caution; Reckless Foul) 34
CHV -- Jesus Padilla (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 79
DAL -- Daniel Hernandez (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 79
CHV -- Paulo Nagamura (caution; Tactical Foul) 89
Chivas USA -- Zach Thornton, Jonathan Bornstein, Michael Umana, Dario Delgado, Ante Jazic (Sal Zizzo 82), Justin Braun (Carlos Borja 46), Ben Zemanski (Jesus Padilla 74), Paulo Nagamura, Rodolfo Espinoza, Alan Gordon, Giancarlo Maldonado.
Substitutes Not Used: Michael Lahoud, Osael Romero, Marcelo Saragosa, Kevin Guppy.
FC Dallas -- Kevin Hartman, Heath Pearce, George John, Zach Loyd, Jair Benitez, Atiba Harris, Daniel Hernandez, Eric Alexander (Eric Avila 64), Brek Shea (Jackson Goncalves 85), David Ferreira, Milton Rodriguez (Jeff Cunningham 58).
Substitutes Not Used: Marvin Chavez, Edson Edward, Bruno Guarda, Dario Sala.
Referee: Paul Ward
Referee's Assistants: Daniel Belleau; Greg Boles
4th Official: Jasen Anno
Time of Game: 1:52
Attendance: 10,309