Despite being eight points clear of everyone in the Eastern Conference, there's been something missing all season in D.C. United's attack.
One of the league's most prolific scorers might be able to help - eventually.
Newly acquired Alvaro Saborio won't be around to contribute yet, leaving D.C. in search of internal options to end its scoreless drought Saturday night against an FC Dallas club that's been awfully good at preventing goals of late.
D.C. United (10-6-5) has a comfortable cushion as it tries to finish atop the East for a second straight year, but last season's group averaged 1.53 goals - nearly half a goal per game more than the 2015 version.
Those 35 points have largely been a result of the league's stingiest defense (0.86 goals per game), and on Thursday the club made a move intended to provide more balance by acquiring Saborio from Real Salt Lake.
RSL's all-time leading scorer with 63 goals in MLS play, the 33-year-old forward is currently with Costa Rica, which plays a Gold Cup quarterfinal against Mexico on Sunday.
D.C. would love to iron its offensive issues out before Saborio's debut. United has been shut out in back-to-back league games - most recently a 1-0 loss at Seattle on July 3 - and has scored just one goal not off the foot of Chris Rolfe in its last 534 minutes of MLS play.
If there's one thing coach Ben Olsen still felt good about after his team conceded in the 88th minute against the Sounders, it was the play of Andrew Dykstra, who's the starter for the foreseeable future with 2014 Goalkeeper of the Year Bill Hamid out four to six weeks.
"He was great," Olsen told the league's official website. "In our minds, he's a capable starter in this league and a very good goalkeeper. We have a lot of faith in him."
Dykstra might have to be great again for United to walk out of Saturday's game with a result. Dallas (9-5-5) has won three straight league matches by a combined 7-0 after Mauro Diaz and David Texeira found the net at Orlando City last Saturday.
Diaz scored for a third straight match, and though Fabian Castillo's three-game goal streak ended, he had three shots and drew the penalty that Texeira converted.
"They're taking the responsibility," coach Oscar Pareja said. "I understand the game says for players who are supposed to be key players that they need to carry the team. I think both of them are taking that responsibility."
Diaz's goal was the lone highlight for Dallas in the last meeting between these teams, when Fabian Espindola scored twice in D.C.'s 4-1 win at RFK Stadium on April 26, 2014.
Espindola won't be around for this one, however, after he was sent off in the 27th minute against Seattle. Additionally, defender Sean Franklin (tendinitis) and midfielder Michael Farfan (hamstring) are out, while midfielder Chris Pontius (calf) is questionable.
D.C. wasn't alone in working the phone lines this week to improve its roster. Dallas acquired defender Bakary Soumare from Montreal for midfielder Kyle Bekker, giving it a 6-foot-5 center back.
"(This is) somebody who knows the league," technical director Fernando Clavijo said of the eight-year veteran. "Somebody who's been around the league (who) can come in and help this team right away."
