FC Dallas has been involved in more draws than any other MLS team, but it came back from the World Cup break the same way it went in - with a win.
A third straight victory looks like a strong possibility.
That's something Dallas hasn't done all season, but it should have a good chance to do so Saturday night against the Kansas City Wizards, who are winless on the road and will be without captain Davy Arnaud.
Only league-best Los Angeles has fewer losses than Dallas (4-2-6), but coach Schellas Hyndman's club has typically come away with one point rather than three when it's gotten a result.
That hasn't been the case recently. Brek Shea scored twice to lift Dallas to a 2-0 win over San Jose prior to the layoff, then David Ferreira's penalty kick helped his team to a 2-1 victory last Saturday against Chivas USA.
"He's always been a good player but I think he's embraced that leadership role like the team is depending on him," Hyndman said of Ferreira, who has two goals and four assists. "You don't realize the amount of fouls he takes, the amount of runs he makes and how often he gets the ball that will create an opportunity. We're really pleased with him."
Another player who has pleased Hyndman is goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who spent the previous four seasons with the Wizards (3-6-3). Hartman, who came to Dallas as Dario Sala's backup, has emerged as the starter after going 4-1-3 with a 0.75 goals-against average and three clean sheets.
"I'd obviously love to play well in this game but it's difficult to get up more for one game than the next because I feel like I put so much into each game," Hartman said about facing his former club for the first time.
Hartman should have a good chance to add to his win total. Kansas City has been outscored 10-2 in going 0-4-1 away from home and was equally poor at home in its first game after the break. A scoreless game at halftime last Saturday ended with the Wizards losing 3-0 to New York.
To make matters worse, Arnaud drew a straight red card in second-half stoppage time, meaning he'll sit out against Dallas. It's the third red card Arnaud has earned this season.
"(We're) frustrated and angry at ourselves that we lost the game," Arnaud said, "because for a good majority of the game we were the better team."
The Wizards certainly weren't the better team when they last faced Dallas in Frisco, Texas. Jeff Cunningham scored a career-high four goals and Ferreira added two - all against Hartman - in Dallas' 6-0 victory Aug. 1.
Cunningham, last season's Golden Boot winner with 17 goals, was benched in the win over Chivas. He figures to see time Saturday, though. The Jamaican striker has 14 goals and three assists in his career against the Wizards.
