CHESTER -- With a dominating win over the New York Red Bulls last Saturday, the Union moved to the top end of the Eastern Conference, while also delivering one of the most memorable victories in team history.
But with dangerous FC Dallas entering PPL Park on Saturday, head coach John Hackworth has ordered a club-wide refocusing.
“We need to try and stay focused and stop thinking about New York,” Hackworth said. “So far this week, the team has responded positively. We’re focused on Dallas. There’s always a letdown because you build up the rivalry game and that importance, but we knew this stretch would be tough the whole time, so in our planning and the way we presented it, we talked about this four-game stretch being pivotal to our season.”
The players seem to have received the coach’s point.
“We can’t take any breaks or feel too good about ourselves,” Brian Carroll said. “We need to be focused all the time or [not] think too highly of ourselves. We don’t have that luxury. We understand how good Dallas is. Everybody is grounded and focused on what we need to do.
“They are one of the best teams in the league. They are dangerous, experienced and have a lot of young talent. It’s going to take everything we have for us to get a good result here.”
Yet, shedding potential overconfidence and contending with FC Dallas is easier said than done.
Armed with Union-killer Kenny Cooper and leading goal scorer Blas Perez, FC Dallas, 8-3-5 overall, poses difficult matchup problems for the Union with its size up front. In five career games against the Union, Cooper has scored five goals, including a pair of two-goal games.
“[Cooper] has been a player against this club in particular, he’s been tough to contain,” Hackworth said. “We’ll have to do a good job against Kenny. And if they are able to put both Kenny and Blas on the field at the same time, it gives you a two-headed monster. They haven’t gone that way much but we’re preparing for it. We will have to contend with some big-target forwards.”
Though FC Dallas is 1-2-3 in their last six and 1-3-3 on the road -- a record which saw them drop to third in the West, Hackworth hasn’t been able to find their vulnerability.
“FC Dallas has had a great start to the year, they’ve been near the top of the table all year,” the coach said. “They’ve had a very productive first half and are a very good team in all ways. We don’t see many weaknesses in their lineup. They’ve been consistent in the way they’ve played and it will be another big challenge at PPL.”
The confidence that Hackworth is trying to keep measured is also what could help the 7-5-4 Union come away with a result. While the club is coming off a pair of 3-0 wins over the Columbus Crew and Red Bulls, it’s how they’ve done it that’s been impressive.
Over the two-game winning run, the Union received three goals from veteran Conor Casey and single goals from Carroll, Sheanon Williams and Antoine Hoppenot. Union leading scorer Jack McInerney, who will miss much of July as part of the US Men’s National Team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, was kept off the board.
“What we’re doing right now is working pretty well,” Hoppenot said. “We’ve won a few games and offensively, we’re creating a lot of chances. We’re hitting our stride right now and it’s the perfect time to do that.”
Coinciding with red-hot offensive output, the Union also feel that by defeating the Red Bulls, a mental hurdle has been cleared -- a hurdle that can help them on Saturday.
“Our team knew we had to beat someone above us and that we hadn’t done it this year,” Hackworth said. “So beating a team in front of us in the standings, in particular, one of our rivals, was really important. We know we can do it.”
While spirits are high, the Union’s roster is at a low. Losing Keon Daniel to the Trinidad and Tobago Gold Cup team, the Union will also be without Kleberson (hamstring) and potentially Danny Cruz (bone bruise).
“The midfield is a little thin,” Hackworth said. “Kleberson is about the same place he was last week and that’s a negative. You would think he’d be getting better. Danny has been evaluated and got an MRI. While he doesn’t have a fracture, he can’t train right now. He is questionable for this week.”
Michael Farfan is expected to fill in for Daniel and Kleberson at center attack midfielder. As for potential Cruz replacements as an attacking winger, the cupboard is thin.
“Hoppenot, [Leo] Fernandes, [Don] Anding -- We have guys that are ready,” Hackworth said. “A lot of those guys give you similar things to what Danny does. We’re also hopeful that he can play, we’re not counting him out yet. If I know Danny, he’ll do anything he can to put himself on the field Saturday.”