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Cunningham's two goals lift FC Dallas past Red Bulls, 2-1
09:08 AM CDT on Sunday, July 5, 2009
FRISCO – Jeff Cunningham wanted to prove that, at age 32, he can still score goals.
He did it twice in a span of two minutes during FC Dallas' 2-1 win over New York on Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park.
Cunningham is one goal from tying former Dallas striker Jason Kreis for third place among the all-time MLS scoring leaders. He has 107 goals in 303 games.
FC Dallas 2, New York 1
Cunningham scores twice for win
USA 4, Grenada 0
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FC Dallas (4-7-5) has won two games in a row and is unbeaten in seven of its last eight games. New York (2-13-4), which activated only 15 players, is 0-10-1 on the road.
Cunningham, a 12-year veteran, came into Saturday's match with just one goal but complained that he had played the entire 90 minutes just once this season.
Still he took advantage of a rare start at forward in place of Kenny Cooper, who was called up to the U.S. national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
"I really wanted to have a good performance [Saturday]," Cunningham said. "I felt that I had a lot to prove even after 12 years in the league."
Cunningham gave FC Dallas the lead in the 15th minute. He intercepted a pass from Red Bulls midfielder Luke Sassano, cut inside and scored on a left-footed shot.
After blowing kisses to the fans, Cunningham didn't take long to score again.
FC Dallas midfielder Dave Van den Bergh sent a cross from the right side that Cunningham tapped in from inside the box in the 17th minute.
It was the second-fastest time between goals for a player in franchise history. Cooper took a minute and a half to score a second goal against the L.A. Galaxy on July 27, 2008.
Cunningham appeared to have scored his third goal in the 80th minute. But his goal was called off because of an offside.
Despite Cunningham's performance, FC Dallas didn't win easily.
FC Dallas gave up a bad goal in the 43rd minute as Juan Pablo Angel scored his sixth of the season. It was only New York's second road goal of the season.
Defender Anthony Wallace let Angel get in front of a Danleigh Borman cross. Blake Wagner, who hadn't played in a month, replaced Wallace to start the second half. FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said Wallace complained at halftime of feeling sick.
But FC Dallas held on in part because of goalkeeper Ray Burse. He finished with six saves, but none was bigger than the one in the 84th minute.
In a New York counterattack, Burse found himself facing a two-on-one, but deflected a shot from forward John Wolyenic.
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