There is FC Dallas without David Ferreira. (“Ma, gather up the kids right quick, and keep ‘em in the other room! They don’t need to see this!”)
And there is FC Dallas with David Ferreira. (‘Ma, gather up the kids and come a runnin’! Ya’ll gotta take a look at this.”)
The Colombian playmaker is the very definition of a game-changer. FCD was an unsightly 3-9-6 before Ferreira rejoined the starting lineup last month; Schellas Hyndman’s beleaguered team was at rock bottom on the ProSoccerTalk weekly rankings.
But it’s all different now as FCD is suddenly in the playoff hunt, having sprang forward with a 5-2-2 mark in games with Ferreira among the starting 11.
(MORE: It may be a longshot, but Dallas does have a shot)
The big move along the Western Conference table came last week as FCD went on the road for two toughies – but returned Sunday with six huge points and a cargo hold full of confidence.
Not only did Ferreira get two assists on last Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Vancouver, the second goal was all him. Dallas’ creator made the smart run and then held off a defender before sliding a ball perfectly across for the finish.
Then, Saturday at Real Salt Lake, Ferreira had his Colombian paw prints all over his team’s 2-1 win at Real Salt Lake, contributing a goal and an assist. His goal, an absolute screamer, supplied the stoppage-time game-winner.
Said manager Hyndman: “We’re a completely different team [with Ferreira]. I think before we battled and had some good players, but we were always hoping to get a result. Now we’re going in thinking we are going to get a result.”