Toronto FC-FC Dallas Preview

FC Dallas' best start in 17 years seems like a distant memory after it barely looked competitive in its last two matches.

Few may remember the last time Dallas lost to Toronto FC.

Dallas looks to extend its unbeaten streak in the series to 13 as Toronto continues its season-opening seven-game road trip Saturday night.

Any excitement over the club's first 3-0-0 start since 1998 quickly faded with the disappointing performances that followed. Dallas played to a scoreless draw with Seattle on March 28 before falling 3-1 at Portland on April 4 and 4-0 at home to Colorado last Friday.

It had outscored opponents 6-1 during its winning streak.

"We are still in a good spot," coach Oscar Pareja told the club's official website. "It's early and we have a team that is preparing for the long run- a long journey through the MLS season. We are not going to be that low when we lose or that high when we win. We'll just keep doing what we do."

What Dallas hasn't done is start well in either of its last two. The Timbers took the lead in the 23rd minute, and Colorado scored in the second minute last week before taking a two-goal edge into halftime.

"Getting a good start to the game is something that we all want," Pareja said. "The thing is, the other team is preparing the same way."

Dallas hopes to jump ahead quickly against a Toronto club that hasn't won a game in the series since the first-ever meeting June 17, 2007. Dallas has gone 7-0-5 since, including a 2-1 victory in last year's meeting as Matt Hedges and Blas Perez scored.

Perez has a team-best three goals this season, and Toronto (1-3-0) may have a difficult time slowing him down with defenders Steven Caldwell, Eriq Zavaleta and Clement Simonin all out with injuries.

Damien Perquis could return as Toronto looks to snap a three-game skid. In its most recent match, Warren Creavalle received his second yellow card in the 67th minute and Chicago scored the deciding goal a minute later in a 3-2 defeat April 4.

Sebastian Giovinco scored in the 20th minute and assisted on Benoit Cheyrou's goal in the 54th minute to give Toronto a short-lived lead.

Toronto is the only club in the league allowing two goals per game thus far.

"Some of our mistakes are because guys feel uncomfortable when they should be comfortable," coach Greg Vanney told the club's official website. "They panic a little bit and make decisions that they normally wouldn't make, and they know better than that."

Toronto made a splash in the offseason by bringing in Jozy Altidore, and he didn't disappoint by scoring twice in a season-opening 3-1 win over Vancouver on March 7.

Altidore has just one shot on goal combined in the last two matches he's played, but Pareja knows Dallas must account for him at all times.

"He is a player that has made an impact wherever he has played," Pareja said. "He is a good player, obviously I respect him, but I think we have very good defenders."

Dallas is 5-0-2 at home against Toronto.