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U.S. national team fans weren't the only ones who caught a glimpse of Kenny Cooper's performance against Guatemala on Saturday.

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Four teams saw their MLS playoff dreams buried last weekend, leaving four groups of fans disgusted and four clubs searching for answers heading into the off-season.

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When Colombian midfielder Juan Toja left FC Dallas for Steaua Bucharest via transfer this summer, the transaction went relatively ignored, overshadowed by the reports and rumors surrounding Kenny Cooper's potential departure, as well as other MLS transfers in the works.

The first-place Columbus Crew. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Sure, it only lasted until Wednesday, when New England beat D.C. to move back on top of the East, but for four days the Crew enjoyed the rarified air of first place in the brutal Eastern Conference.

The fact that Columbus beat red-hot FC Dallas to move into first made the accomplishment even more impressive.

The red-hot Hoops of FC Dallas will take their five-match unbeaten streak to Crew Stadium tonight to take on a Columbus team that has struggled in recent weeks (1-2-2 in past five).

Dallas will be looking to keep pressure on Real Salt Lake and Houston at the top of the Western Conference standings while Columbus tries to regain second place in the East, as well as avoid falling into the pack chasing the final playoff spots in the East.

There may not be two teams going in more different directions than FC Dallas and Toronto FC. More than a month ago Toronto was playing well while FC Dallas was in turmoil after the firing of former head coach Steve Morrow.

The roles have been reversed. Now, TFC is the struggle squad, looking as bad as it did in its 2007 expansion season.

Good afternoon to the folks on the West side of the country (and the MLS standings). Here are some news items and notes for you to peruse as your day winds to a close:

FC Dallas signs Sikora

FC Dallas said goodbye to Colombian midfielder Juan Toja over the weekend, but have already replaced him.

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For those of you who missed it, Kenny Cooper kept his stock heading skyward with another two-goal performance, this time in helping FC Dallas topple Toronto FC on Sunday. The brace upped Cooper's tally to 13, tying him for the league lead with Landon Donovan.

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FC Dallas general manager Michael Hitchcock has confirmed SBI's report from earlier today that the club has decided to turn down all offers for all-star forward Kenny Cooper.

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(No, there are no updates on Kenny Cooper's transfer decision. It appears will be waiting at least one more day, if not longer for a final conclusion. If you are wondering what is taking so long, you may not realize everything involved in this big decision.

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With reports circulating about transfer deals being completed for both FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja and forward Kenny Cooper, but MLS All-Stars denied that deals were done while a team source told SBI that multiple teams have made strong inquiries about Cooper.

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When the MLS All-Star reserves were named on Tuesday there were some very glaring absences from a list that included Juan Pablo Angel, Pat Onstad, Dwayne DeRosario, Jim Brennan, Pablo Mastroeni, Edson Buddle and Christian Gomez.

Schellas Hyndman's transition to MLS reached a milestone on Thursday as the long-time SMU coach earned his first point in charge of FC Dallas. The Hoops showed far more energy and promise than they did against the Red Bulls a week earlier, and the result also helped the club walk away with the prize awarded to the winner of this Texas season series.

FC Dallas officially introduced Schellas Hyndman as the fifth head coach in the club's history on Tuesday. With the decision made, and Hyndman on board, it is time to start thinking about the decision the club just made.

Can a coach who has spent two decades coaching college really make the adjustment to MLS?

FC Dallas officially introduced Schellas Hyndman as the fifth head coach in the club's history on Tuesday. With the decision made, and Hyndman on board, it is time to start thinking about the decision the club just made.

Can a coach who has spent two decades coaching college really make the adjustment to MLS?

The Chicago Fire are in Frisco, Texas today taking on FC Dallas in today's lone MLS match. The Fire will be looking to try and keep pace with the New England Revolution in the East while FC Dallas is still lookng for its first win since the club fired head coach Steve Morrow.

If you will be watching today's match, and will be online, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Imagine being a D.C. United fan watching highlights of the Colorado Rapids these days. Christian Gomez has played like an MVP candidate while Facundo Erpen has provided a steady force in the back for the Rapids. Gomez's replacement in D.C., Marcelo Gallardo, isn't doing quite as well and we all know about D.

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Diego Aparicio of Al Dia spoke to SMU coach Schellas Hyndman and Hyndman insists that he has not spoken to FC Dallas about becoming the team's new head coach or technical director.

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FC Dallas is preparing to hire SMU head coach Schellas Hyndman as head coach and technical director, Buzz Carrick at 3rddegree.net reported on Saturday.

According to Carrick, Hunt Sports Group, owners of FC Dallas, is set to hire Hyndman, who the club had considered a favorite for the position back when it hired Steve Morrow as head coach following the 2006 season.

San Jose unveiled its new home on Saturday, but Buck Shaw Stadium did little to jumpstart an Earthquakes offense that has been sputtering for most of the season.

FC Dallas played the role of defensive spoiler, but it was tough to celebrated a road point too much considering the Hoops' own attacking woes.

One look at the New England Revolution starting lineup last Thursday and most observers would have penciled in the Revs match at FC Dallas as a blowout loss. Missing six starters, the Revs fielded an inexperienced squad with plenty of new faces against a Hoops squad that went into the match unbeaten.

One look at the New England Revolution starting lineup last Thursday and most observers would have penciled in the Revs match at FC Dallas as a blowout loss. Missing six starters, the Revs fielded an inexperienced squad with plenty of new faces against a Hoops squad that went into the match unbeaten.

You can erase FC Dallas from the list of unbeatens (a list they were the last member of). Khano Smith's 72nd-minute strike helped a severely short-handed New England squad head to Pizza Hut Park and knock off previously unbeaten FC Dallas last night.

For those of you who missed it, here is the goal:

Not sure what happened to Dario Sala on that goal but it wasn't exactly the hardest hit ball ever.

You can erase FC Dallas from the list of unbeatens (a list they were the last member of). Khano Smith's 72nd-minute strike helped a severely short-handed New England squad head to Pizza Hut Park and knock off previously unbeaten FC Dallas last night.

For those of you who missed it, here is the goal:

Not sure what happened to Dario Sala on that goal but it wasn't exactly the hardest hit ball ever.

The New England Revolution travel to Texas tonight to take on the red-hot Hoops of FC Dallas.

The Revs come into the match severely short-handed, with injuries and Mauricio Castro's suspension costing the Revs as many as six starters. How hurt is New England? None other than Gary "Red Sox Nation" Flood is in the starting lineup tonight.

Before the season began, a Chivas USA-FC Dallas match might have been seen as a potential Western Conference final between two young teams that showed great promise in 2007. A month into the new season and only one of these two has lived up to that promise.

FC Dallas remained unbeaten while Chivas USA remained unhinged in the Hoops' 2-0 victory against the Goats on Sunday night.

It took three games but FC Dallas finally put together a complete game and finally posted a victory last Saturday against the Red Bulls.

There was no blown late lead, no last-gasp equalizer surrendered by a defense that had already given up two leads. Against the Red Bulls, FC Dallas scored in the first minute and played mistake-free soccer the rest of the match.

It took three games but FC Dallas finally put together a complete game and finally posted a victory last Saturday against the Red Bulls.

There was no blown late lead, no last-gasp equalizer surrendered by a defense that had already given up two leads. Against the Red Bulls, FC Dallas scored in the first minute and played mistake-free soccer the rest of the match.

With Juan Pablo Angel at home and not on this trip, the Red Bulls will be revealing a new strike tandem of Jozy Altidore and Oscar Echeverry. More importantly for the Red Bulls will be whether the club's defense can handle FC Dallas' dangerous attack.

You could see a new formation tonight from the Red Bulls as Juan Carlos Osorio could toy with a 4-3-3, with hopes of pressuring the wings and forcing Dallas to defend rather than sitting back and letting the Hoops attack.

Good morning all. Okay, I know, it isn't even really morning anymore on the East Coast (although I say before noon counts as morning). It's morning somewhere though, like the West Coast, where folks are just making their way to work.

Whether you've already made it through the winter mess on the East Coast, or are enjoying the sun out West, here are some news nuggets to get you through the early afternoon and morning.

FC Dallas fans, it is a sad day in Frisco. Brazilian star Denilson has decided to pass up a chance to play for the Hoops again and will instead become the wasted signing of Brazilian club Palmeiras.

No word yet on who FC Dallas will bring in to pick up the slack in the dribble tricks and can't beat anybody off the dribble department.

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Maciej Zurawski has been one of the most commonly mentioned names during this MLS off-season. Linked with Los Angeles and most recently with the Columbus Crew, the Polish striker looked like a good bet to join Major League Soccer.

FC Dallas defender Chris Gbandi is set for a training stint with Norwegian club FK Haugesund and a team source says the Hoops are open to selling him if the Norwegian club makes an offer.

A six-year veteran of the Dallas club, Gbandi had his contract renewed for the 2008 season but FC Dallas has expressed a willingness to let Gbandi leave on a transfer if a good bid is made for the No.

The Los Angeles Galaxy has found an accomplished forward to latch on to David Beckham's dangerous crosses.

The Galaxy has acquired Carlos Ruiz from FC Dallas in exchange for an allocation and 2009 second-round draft pick, Major League Soccer announced on Tuesday.

Ruiz returns to the team he led to the 2002 MLS Cup title.

The first day of the 2008 MLS Combine will be remembered for two things. It was the day we saw a new generation of MLS coaches get to work and it was a day that set offensive soccer back about 100 years as nervous draft prospects did little to stand out in front of the scores of MLS coaches and management folks in attendance.