Frisco, TX (Sports Network) - Both FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids will be
anxious to get the 2013 season started at FC Dallas Stadium on Saturday after
enduring forgettable campaigns in 2012.
Both sides failed to reach the postseason and both made significant changes in
the offseason with an eye toward improvement in 2013.
For Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman much of the change in his side came up
top as he brought back striker Kenny Cooper in a trade from Red Bull New York
while also acquiring forward Eric Hassli in a deal with Toronto FC.
Those two will combine with Blas Perez and Fabian Castillo to give Hyndman a
deep group of forwards, with Perez and Castillo combining to score 15 goals
for the Hoops last term.
There are two familiar faces who will no longer be wearing the Dallas jersey
this season as veteran goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was not re-signed, while
winger Brek Shea has made the move to Stoke City in England.
The arrival of both Cooper and Hassli should help offset the loss of Shea, who
struggled at times last year. Another huge boost to the Dallas attack will be
a full season from midfielder David Ferreira, who returned from a 15-month
injury absence last year to show flashes of his playmaking ability.
FC Dallas is a team that expects to challenge for a playoff spot this year,
while Colorado figures to have a tougher time cracking the top five in the
Western Conference.
Colorado boss Oscar Pareja said goodbye to a handful familiar veterans in the
offseason including forwards Conor Casey and Omar Cummings, as well as
midfielder Jeff Larentowicz.
In place of Casey and Cummings, Colorado traded for Edson Buddle from the Los
Angeles Galaxy, as well as Vancouver's Atiba Harris.
The Rapids will be hoping to get the 2010 version of Buddle as he scored 17
goals in 25 starts for the Galaxy before a stint in Germany and a return to
Los Angeles that saw him net three goals in 19 games last year.
Larentowicz became a stalwart in the middle of the field for the Rapids, but
his departure leaves a void that Pareja will hope can filled by newly-acquired
duo Nathan Sturgis and Nick LaBrocca. Veteran Pablo Mastroeni also returns to
the fold after missing 32 of 34 games last season because of concussion
symptoms.
Both teams are looking ahead to better things in 2013, and both will be eager
to claim three points in order to get the year started on the right foot.
The Sports Network