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Despite its lofty status atop the Western Conference table and owning the most points in MLS, FC Dallas has plenty to prove when it hosts the Chicago Fire on Saturday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.FC Dallas enters the match after its worst showing of the season, a 5-0 road trouncing at the hands of the Seattle Sounders on Thursday. FC Dallas was forced to play all but the first four minutes of the game with just 10 men after defender Maynor Figueroa was sent off for a handball in the box.FC Dallas has compiled an undefeated record of 7-0-3 this season and hasnt lost a match at home (in the regular season or the playoffs) since falling 2-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Aug. 15, 2015.FC Dallas averages two goals per game at home, the third-highest home scoring total in the league, and its plus-14 goal differential at home is the leagues highest, having allowed only six goals in 10 home matches.Drawing the Fire for a renewal of the Brimstone Cup series adds to the challenge of assuring backers that FC Dallas (11-6-4, 37 points) isnt taking a step back after a dominating first half of the 2016 campaign.Chicago (4-8-5, 17 points) rests at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and is tied with Columbus for the fewest points in the league. Still, the Fire is one team that FC Dallas has been unable to solve in the recent past, with Chicago having won four straight against FC Dallas since 2012.And the Fire bring some momentum into the match after a 1-0 home victory over Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday. The win was the second in three matches for Chicago, which is playing some of its best soccer of the season in an attempt to make a push for the playoffs.We try hard every game, home and away, Chicago midfielder Razvan Cocis said. Were building this thing, and well try to keep going on this road. We need to improve on our game.It has been just under a calendar year since the two teams last meeting, when the Fire halted FC Dallas five-game winning streak with a 2-0 victory in Chicago. FC Dallas owns the all-time series with a 20-15-4 edge since 1998.Buck Martinez Jersey . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Ryan Borucki Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/1766h-jason-adam-jersey-blue-jays.html . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Anthony Kay Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Trent Thornton Blue Jays Jersey . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate.SALVADOR, Brazil -- Neymar and Mario Balotelli will be attracting most of the attention when Brazil and Italy play to decide the Group A winner at the Confederations Cup on Saturday. The strikers are two of the tournaments biggest stars and have played up to expectations so far, scoring two goals each in the first two matches. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said Friday it will be "nice to see them together" when the teams play in the northeastern city of Salvador. Brazil and Italy have already secured a spot in the next round. The group winner will probably avoid Spain in the semifinals of the warm-up tournament, although both coaches are downplaying the significance of delaying a matchup against the World Cup champions. There was a lot of hype surrounding Neymar and Balotelli ahead of the Confederations Cup, and they have been decisive for their national teams so far. Balotelli scored a remarkable winner when Italy defeated Mexico 2-1 in its opener last Sunday, then converted a penalty kick that helped the Italians edge Japan 4-3 on Wednesday. "Balotelli is a great player and he has been showing his qualities when plays for the Italian national team," Brazil defender Daniel Alves said. "We will need to stay on alert the entire match to be able to defend well against him." Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari also loudly praised the Italian striker. "He is a very good player, very good," Scolari said. "We are preparing ourselves to play against him, we need our defenders to be on alert. He is extraordinary, I would love to have him playing with us here in Brazil." Neymar netted an outstanding goal from outside the area to open the scoring in Brazils 3-0 rout of Japan in the tournaments opening match last Saturday, then had another remarkable strike to put the hosts on the board first in the 2-0 victory over Mexico on Wednesday. The newly signed Barcelona forward also set up the second goal against Mexico after a nifty move past two Mexican defenders inside the area. "The problem with Neymar, as with all great players, is that you cant stop him just by marking well," Prandelli said. "You need to do a good job limiting the spaces." Neymar said he became friends with Balotellii after Brazil played Italy to a 2-2 draw in a friendly in Geneva earlier this year.dddddddddddd Brazilian media even reported that the players are planning to travel together in Brazil after the end of the competition. "Im a fan of Balotelli," Neymar said recently. "He is one of the greatest in the world. Ive always watched him play. He is a great person and Ive always admired his moves." Brazil and Italy have won nine World Cup titles together. Two of the five Brazilian titles came in finals against the Italians -- in 1970 and 1994. Friday marked 43 years of the 1970 World Cup title. "Its a classic in world football," Brazil midfielder Hernanes said. "These are two of the most traditional national teams in the world. Its always a match with a lot involved, with a lot of tradition." Brazil and Italy are tied with six points atop Group A, but the hosts are ahead on goal difference and can secure first place with a draw on Saturday. Italy has to beat Brazil to likely avoid Spain, which is leading Group B. "We are not thinking about Spain at all," Prandelli said. "If we have to play Spain, we will talk about it later." Although Neymar and Balotelli are set to start on Saturday, both teams will be without key players for the match at the Arena Fonte Nova. Italy will miss star midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who is nursing a strained right leg muscle, adding to Prandellis problems in midfield. The coach also wont be able to count on Daniele De Rossi, who is suspended after receiving two yellow cards. Scolari will be without defensive midfielder Paulinho because of a left ankle sprain sustained in the match against Mexico. Doctors said the injury is not serious but the player will be left out so he can fully recover ahead of the semifinals. Chelsea defender David Luiz sustained what the Brazilian federation called a "minor fracture" in his nose after being hit in the face against Mexico, but he is set to play on Saturday despite the injury. Scolari said he may replace Daniel Alves and captain Thiago Silva because they already have received yellow cards, and theres also a possibility the coach will rest playmaker Oscar, who has played a lot with Chelsea this season. ' ' '