Hopes Drenched In Dallas

It’s hard to win on the road in the MLS, everyone knows that. Possible factors that contribute to league-wide road woes include: field conditions, unfriendly referees, inclement weather, long flights, sleeping away from home, and voodoo hexes. Which of these factors is most to blame remains unclear, but of the eight MLS games played on Saturday only two featured the away team coming away with points, and only Real Salt Lake came away with a win. Minnesota United were one of the six road teams that came up empty.

For fans, attending away games can present its own set of challenges. When I decided to travel to Texas to watch the Loons take on FC Dallas, I was hoping to bear witness to a rare…