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With the FC Dallas' playoff hopes currently clinging to life in the ICU, the villain that comes to disconnect the life-support equipment once and for all arrives in the form of the San Jose Earthquakes.
The San Jose Earthquakes come not only as league-best in many categories, including goals scored, but arrive with trouble on the wings in the form of former FC Dallas midfielder Marvin Chavez, whose speed and work-rate excited FC Dallas fans for two seasons before being traded to the now first-place Quakes.
The San Jose Earthquakes have reinvented themselves drastically this season after a disappointing season last year in which they failed to make the playoffs. The Quakes addressed their midfield woes by adding Marvin Chavez and by focusing on a more two-pronged threat with Chris Wondolowski as a target man while Steven Lenhart bullies his way into the box with size and speed.
FC Dallas meanwhile is barely alive and have had a supremely disappointing season so far. While David Ferreira is again expected to make the bench, he is described by coach Schellas Hyndman as only at "65%" and so expectations for his contributions must be lowered. Simply having Ferreira back on the field is a massive boost to morale, but it will take a while for his body to perform what his brilliant soccer-mind tells him to do.
The match will start at 8 PM CT and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest.