CARSON, Calif. – Without injured standouts Juan Toja and Pablo Richetti, FC Dallas' midfield depth was put to the test against Chivas USA.

It was an exam FC Dallas passed with high marks.

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Kenny Cooper of FC Dallas (center) celebrates his first half goal with his teammates.

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Kenny Cooper and Abe Thompson scored goals as FC Dallas dominated Chivas USA in a 2-0 victory at Home Depot Center on Sunday.

"The team tonight showed how deep we are," Cooper said. "Arturo [Alvarez] had another great game and so did Ricardinho. It was a great overall team performance."

FC Dallas (2-0-2) opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Dax McCarty swung a pinpoint cross from the right side of the midfield to the left of the six-yard box. Ricardinho rose for the ball and headed it down to the front of the goal. Cooper then got in behind Chivas' Claudio Suarez and slammed the ball into the roof of the goal.

It was his fourth goal of the season.

"The team has been playing so well, and I've been fortunate to get on the other side of some great balls from my teammates," Cooper said.

After the goal, however, FC Dallas yielded a bulk of the possession to Chivas (1-2-1). FC Dallas finished the first half with only two more shots. The hosts had six shots in the first 45 minutes, including four on goal.

Thompson sealed the game with a goal in the 80th minute.

"We knew depth was going to be important in the start of the season," FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow said. "We have a very deep roster with good, young players. Some guys stepped up tonight and took their opportunity very well."

Luis Bueno is a freelance writer in Riverside, Calif.