FRISCO, Texas – Only three teams in the history of Major League Soccer have reached the 200-win plateau. The LA Galaxy reached the 200-win mark in April of 2010, and D.C. United came in right behind them that June. Just over a year later, FC Dallas has become the third MLS franchise to win 200 games with last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Chivas USA.
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In honor of this milestone, FCDallas.com has put together a list of the Top 10 regular season wins in franchise history with input from fans, long-time front office staff and former players. We’ll reveal three games each day, leading up to the unveiling of what we believe to be one of the most memorable wins in club history on Thursday, June 23.
Like any “best of” list, the contents and order are up for debate – let your voice be heard in the comments section below.
We started the countdown Monday with 10 through 8. Now let’s keep it rolling with games 7 through 5.
7
Win #1 – April 4, 1996: DAL 1, SJ 0
The first
The Dallas Burn became the sixth team to win a Major League Soccer game when they defeated the San Jose Clash in the club’s first-ever match in the Cotton Bowl in 1996. After a scoreless 90 minutes of regulation the winner would be determined by a shootout.
Yes, this was back in the days when the league opted to go to a best-of-five, dribble-up-and-rip-one shootout rather than settle for a draw. Dallas bested San Jose in the shootout 2-1 off goals by John Kerr and Lawrence Lozzano. It may not have been pretty, and it may not meet the league’s standards for victory today, but it was the very first win in franchise history.
6
Win #130 – September 18, 2005: FCD 2, RSL 1
Open house
From one first to another, the next win on our list represents the team’s first win in a home of their own. Pizza Hut Park opened in August of 2005 to a 2-2 draw with the then-New York MetroStars, and the venue hosted another draw and three losses before the recently-rebranded FC Dallas treated the home crowd to their first win in the league’s third soccer-specific stadium.
FC Dallas took a 1-0 lead over expansion Real Salt Lake in the 17th minute off a goal from forward Roberto Mina, and then doubled it in the 52nd when Mina made it a brace. RSL pulled one back two minutes later, but couldn’t find an equalizer, giving Dallas their first win at Pizza Hut Park.
5
Win #6 – May 18, 1996: DAL 3, DC 2
Welcome Hugo
The signing of Hugo Sanchez to the 1996 inaugural Dallas Burn squad was a big deal to say the least. A veteran of three World Cups with Mexico and winner of five Pichichi La Liga goal-scoring trophies and one European Golden Boot, hundreds gathered at the airport just to welcome Sanchez upon his arrival to Dallas.
Sanchez made his debut as a second half substitute, with the Burn leading D.C. United 1-0 off a Jason Kreis goal. D.C. tied the game in the 65th before Kreis regained the lead for Dallas in the 82nd minute.
Six minutes later Sanchez scored his first MLS goal and followed it up with a celebratory front flip, much to the delight of a Cotton Bowl crowd of more than 23,000. D.C. United pulled one back in the 90th minute, but Sanchez’s goal would hold up as the game-winner in his Major League Soccer debut.
Stay tuned to FCDallas.com all week to keep up with our countdown, and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll be rolling out games 4 through 2 on Wednesday.
Click here to see which games came in 4-2.
Click here to see which game came in at number one.