Danny Torres has the experience, but hasn’t done the job. Steve Purdy doesn’t seem to be the guy either, as his inexperience is glaringly obvious. Same can be said for George John, solid, but very young. That leaves FC Dallas with one competent center back in Drew Moor and accordingly, one measly win in seven games. Fans may be ironically wishing to return to the days when Duilio Davino was slowly patrolling the defense.

The latest loss came from a 2-1 away result at the hands of D.C. United.

United had the best of play from the opening minutes with Dallas immediately on their back foot. United’s stalwart striker Jaime Moreno started the night strong, forcing Dallas keeper Ray Burse to turn a 4th minute effort wide of goal. Burse was strong all night and kept active by his lackluster defense composed of Moor and Torres in the center with Marcelo Saragosa on the right and Blake Wagner on the left. Only minutes later, Moreno and Pontius each blazed a shot inches past the goalframe.

Dallas was forced to counter-attack with Kenny Cooper the sole man up top. Against the run of play, Dave van den Bergh sent an inswinging corner into the box that was met by the head of Andre Rocha who nipped it past the helpless DCU keeper Milos Kocic in the 28th minute.

Moments later, Dallas nearly scored again when Kocic could not handle a squirming ven den Bergh shot, resorting to a last minute push to keep Cooper from cleaning up the rebound.

After the break, D.C. continued their dominance of the Red Stripes. Burse made a fantastic reflex save on a Luciano Emilio header keeping his team’s perilous lead for the moment. He could not, however, keep out Moreno’s shot in 56th minute. United defender Bryan Namoff sent a long ball to Moreno who somehow shed the entire Dallas defense, finding himself totally in the clear and easily finishing past Burse.

Playmaker Christian Gomez was brought on for the scrappy Ben Olsen in 58th minute and the sub paid off. Gomez played a beautiful pass to Moreno who again found room to roam behind the Dallas backline and chipped Burse for the lead in the 66th minute.

Kocic struggled to control his box, but Dallas could not capitalize and the game ended with a strong United victory and yet another Dallas defeat.

Of note, Dallas manager Schellas Hyndman has the worst record of any coach in the history of FC Dallas through 24 games with just 5 wins and this point last year Dallas had nine point and a 2-2-3 record leading to the firing of previous manager Steve Morrow.

Dallas plays their next game away to Houston on Saturday May 9.