Jeff Cunningham scored on a penalty kick in the 67th minute to tie the MLS career goal-scoring record, and FC Dallas equaled the longest single-season unbeaten streak in league history with a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
Dallas clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2007 by running its streak to 18 games (10-0-8), tying Columbus' 2004 mark for the longest run without a loss.
Cunningham, who won the MLS Golden Boot Award last year for leading the league with 17 goals, scored his 11th of the season and 132nd of his career, tying DC United veteran Jaime Moreno.
Chicago fell to 1-6-2 in its last nine and will likely miss the postseason. The Fire, who were shut out for the fifth time in six games, are 3-12-1 in Dallas.
With Dallas ahead 2-0, Cunningham sealed the triumph with his penalty kick goal. After Fire defender Dasan Robinson pulled him down in the penalty area, Cunningham stepped up to the dot with a slight hesitation before slotting a low shot just inside the left goal post.
Milton Rodriguez scored his fourth goal of the season in the 19th minute and Marvin Chavez connected for his second of the year, both in the last two games, about 30 seconds into the second half.
Dario Sala made two saves in recording his first shutout of the season and 23rd of his six-year MLS career. Sala, playing his third straight game in place of injured starter Kevin Hartman, even earned his second career assist when a free kick he boomed from just outside his own penalty area led to Rodriguez's goal.
