The 2016 FC Dallas team won two trophies and looked to be on the road to a third before Mauro Diaz suffered an injury and the team's MLS Cup hopes departed with him.
That team was praised for its solidity at the back, but coach Oscar Pareja said not everything was as it seemed. Now, ahead of Saturday's home contest against the Seattle Sounders, the cracks in the unit are glaring. FCD is on an eight-match winless skid that has put its spot in this season's playoffs in doubt.
"Last year, (defense) was maybe the thing that kept us from winning the title," Pareja said.