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FC Dallas off to its worst start with 2-0 loss

02:06 AM CDT on Monday, March 30, 2009

By BRANDON GEORGE / The Dallas Morning News
bgeorge@dallasnews.com

FRISCO – One of the few positives from FC Dallas' game Sunday was it didn't continue a trend of squandering a lead.

The bad news: FC Dallas never led. Chivas USA scored two second-half goals in a 2-0 victory before a crowd of 6,524 Sunday at Pizza Hut Park.

FC Dallas lost its second consecutive home game, joining Kansas City as the only 0-2-0 Major League Soccer teams through two weeks.

"It was a very frustrating and disappointing result," FCD coach Schellas Hyndman said. "I think we're a better team than what we showed, but until the players start picking it up and playing with a little bit more enthusiasm, pride, whatever it might be – just frustrating."

Fourth-year goalkeeper Ray Burse was solid in his first start of the season in place of injured starter Dario Sal. But Burse was done in by two Chivas balls played over the top that slipped past FCD backline defense.

Forward Eduardo Lillingston gave Chivas the lead in the 56th minute on a goal from the left flank. Chivas' Gerson Mayen, making his MLS debut, delivered a bending pass to Lillingston from the midfield area. Lillingston, in only his second game with Chivas, beat Burse with a left-footed, 16-yard shot to the far post for his first MLS goal.

"We got burned by two balls over the top. That can't happen," FCD midfielder Dave van den Bergh said. "They beat us very easily. We need to look at the tape and adjust because we're going to see a lot of those balls in this league in weeks to come."

Chivas (2-0-0) took a 2-0 lead in the 75th minute on a goal from Bojan Stepanovic. Stepanovic, who had replaced Lillingston in the 69th minute, beat two FCD players to the right flank. FCD defender Aaron Pitchkolan fell near the top of the penalty area, allowing Stepanovic to get free.

Stepanovic, making his MLS debut, fired a right-footed shot in from about eight yards out, beating Burse to the far post.

Hyndman said he would mull over making lineup changes before Saturday's game at the New England Revolution (1-0-1).

"When you don't get results, it has to be something you consider," Hyndman said. "Are we playing players in the right position? Are we getting the best out of players? Would another player help by being on the field? It's something we definitely have to talk about."

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