Dallas adds two at forward
In 2012, FC Dallas boasted one of the top new forwards in the league in Panamanian striker Blas Perez. On Monday, they added two more proven MLS goalscorers to their squad by trading a conditional draft pick to Toronto FC in exchange for Eric Hassli, then sent allocation money to the New York Red Bulls for Kenny Cooper.
The move brings the leading scorers from the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps in their expansion seasons in 2011 together at FC Dallas.
Cooper, 28, was second in MLS with 18 goals for the Red Bulls last season, matching his career high. He played for FC Dallas from 2006-2009, netting 40 goals in 90 appearances before going to Europe to play first for 1860 Munich, then on loan with Plymouth Argyle. He returned in 2011 to lead the Timbers with eight goals before being traded to New York in January, 2012.
Hassli, 31, had ten goals in his first season in MLS in 2011 with the Whitecaps, but couldn’t repeat that success in 2012, netting just two goals in 18 matches before moving to Toronto FC in a midseason trade. There, he had three goals in seven matches, but didn’t figure into the plans of new coach Ryan Nelsen.
In exchange, Toronto FC received a conditional second round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
Those weren’t the only trades in MLS on Monday though, as the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire finalized a deal that sends midfielder Dilly Duka to Chicago for forward Dominic Oduro.
Duka, 23, was the eighth overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft and had two goals and five assists in 45 matches over three seasons with the Crew.
Oduro, 27, has played seven seasons in MLS, totaling 33 goals in 183 matches. He had his best year in 2011, scoring 11 goals for the Fire, but came back with just six in 2012. Columbus will be his fifth team in MLS.
In the deal, the Fire also acquired the MLS rights for Robbie Rogers, who went to England to play for Leeds United last year and found himself on loan to Stevenage FC. The midfielder had 13 goals in 106 matches for the Crew and also has 18 caps with the US National Team.
The move brings the leading scorers from the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps in their expansion seasons in 2011 together at FC Dallas.
Cooper, 28, was second in MLS with 18 goals for the Red Bulls last season, matching his career high. He played for FC Dallas from 2006-2009, netting 40 goals in 90 appearances before going to Europe to play first for 1860 Munich, then on loan with Plymouth Argyle. He returned in 2011 to lead the Timbers with eight goals before being traded to New York in January, 2012.
Hassli, 31, had ten goals in his first season in MLS in 2011 with the Whitecaps, but couldn’t repeat that success in 2012, netting just two goals in 18 matches before moving to Toronto FC in a midseason trade. There, he had three goals in seven matches, but didn’t figure into the plans of new coach Ryan Nelsen.
In exchange, Toronto FC received a conditional second round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
Those weren’t the only trades in MLS on Monday though, as the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire finalized a deal that sends midfielder Dilly Duka to Chicago for forward Dominic Oduro.
Duka, 23, was the eighth overall pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft and had two goals and five assists in 45 matches over three seasons with the Crew.
Oduro, 27, has played seven seasons in MLS, totaling 33 goals in 183 matches. He had his best year in 2011, scoring 11 goals for the Fire, but came back with just six in 2012. Columbus will be his fifth team in MLS.
In the deal, the Fire also acquired the MLS rights for Robbie Rogers, who went to England to play for Leeds United last year and found himself on loan to Stevenage FC. The midfielder had 13 goals in 106 matches for the Crew and also has 18 caps with the US National Team.
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