The seemingly annual summer swoon hit FC Dallas hard this year. The defending Supporters' Shield and Open Cup winners went 10 games without a win from July 22 until September 27, when they finally snapped the skid with a 2-0 win over Colorado.
The win on Wednesday gives Dallas' playoff hopes a boost, and results elsewhere moved them back above the playoff line in the Western Conference. Their odds of reaching the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs improved, too, according to FiveThirtyEight.com.
Next up is getting the team's leading scorer Maxi Urruti back on track.
The 26-year-old forward scored 11 goals and added four assists in his first 16 games this year (and also had a goal in CONCACAF Champions League play). However, since scoring in four straight games ending on July 4, the Argentine has only registered one goal and one assist in his and the team's last 12 games.
And to be fair, Urruti has had a few tallies in that span chalked off due to Video Review. Depending on your perspective and loyalties, one or more of those decisions may have been a bit harsh to Urruti in the end. That's probably a fair point, although the scoreless streak technically remains intact.
And here's a key stat that ties that ties both sides' success together: Since he arrived last year, Dallas are undefeated in the 27 games across all competitions when Urruti either scores a goal or has an assist (20-0-7 overall, 16-0-7 in league play).
In the 12 games in which he's scored or assisted this season, Dallas are 7-0-5. The win over Colorado was the first without Urruti registering a point since Dallas beat Sporting KC back on April 22.
All goalscorers go through slumps. However Urruti's is perhaps magnified after the team turned down offers for the forward from Argentine side San Lorenzo earlier this month. But if Dallas are to turn their 2017 season around, Urruti will almost certainly play a crucial role for the Texan club.
