Wizards striker Ryan Smith scored in his second straight match for Kansas City, but the Wizards couldn’t overcome an early deficit after conceding two goals in the game’s first 12 minutes.

Kansas City remains in third place in the Eastern Conference standings at 9-10-6 on the season, and sit five points back of Colorado for the final playoff spot with five games remaining for both teams in the 2010 regular season.

FC Dallas, unbeaten now in its last 17 MLS matches, opened the scoring in the fourth minute on a goal from midfielder Marvin Chavez. The Honduran National Team member, on loan from Honduran club Marathon, combined with David Ferreira, who scooped a crafty chip over the Wizards’ backline. Chavez took the ball out of the air with a first-time volley and placed it inside the near post from 16 yards out.

Dallas doubled its lead eight minutes later on just its second shot of the game, courtesy of striker Milton Rodriguez.

Whereas Dallas scored on its only two shots on goal of the first half, the Wizards placed all five of their shots in the opening 45 minutes on frame, but couldn’t beat Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala.

Having fought back from a two-goal halftime deficit to beat Houston on Wednesday, the Wizards came out of the locker room on Saturday seeking to do the same. Defender Shavar Thomas narrowly missed on a header from a free kick in the 54th minute and halftime substitute Teal Bunbury blasted a dipping shot from the top of the box that was pushed away by Sala in the 56th minute.

One minute later the Wizards got on the board from a great sequence inside the Dallas defensive third. Kei Kamara created off the dribble, drawing three Dallas defenders before slipping a pass to striker Josh Wolff inside the penalty area. Wolff’s first touch fell to Smith, a product of the Arsenal youth system, and Smith fired a first-time shot beneath Sala from the right corner of the box. Smith’s strike is his third of the season, while Wolff recorded the 25th assist of his Kansas City career, tying him with Mark Chung for fifth place on the Wizards all-time assists chart.

Kamara also earned an assist on the play, marking his fifth straight match on the scoresheet and extending his career high to five assists in 2010.

The Wizards nearly pulled even in the 69th minute as Smith earned a corner for Kansas City when his shot was blocked from long range. Arnaud sent the ensuing service to the near post where Jimmy Conrad was waiting but his redirected header went just wide.

With Kansas City pushing forward for a result, Dallas countered for the game’s final goal in the 82nd minute. Ferreira again played the part of provider, splitting the Wizards defense with a well-weighted pass for veteran forward Jeff Cunningham to run onto. The speedy striker took a touch before placing his shot to the backpost for his third goal in four games and 10th of the season. Cunningham now has 131 goals in his MLS career, one shy of Jaime Moreno to become the League’s all-time leading goal scorer.

Ferreira, second in MLS with 12 assists this season, recorded two assists in a match for the first time in his MLS career.

Kansas City continued to fight as Kamara again came close in the 89th minute with a header just wide of the post, but couldn’t come back despite outshooting Dallas 14-7 on the night.

Kansas City next plays at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at New York.