FC Dallas’ 10 game unbeaten streak came to a screeching halt on Saturday with their 1-0 loss to San Jose. Jahmir Hyka scored on an excellent solo effort to give the Earthquakes the win and to fourth place in the Western Conference.

This loss is the latest in the struggles for FC Dallas at home. In their last three games in Frisco, Dallas has only earned two points in draws against Portland and NYCFC. The NYCFC draw was very disheartening, as Dallas looked in control for the majority of the game until Tommy McNamara scored off a David Villa free kick.

“It’s a weird feeling for us,” defender Walker Zimmerman said. “It’s been a while.”

Oscar Pareja had his team set up in a 4-2-3-1, the formation that was run quite a bit when Mauro Diaz was playing, before switching the to the 4-4-2 that the team had become accustomed to, using it in CONCACAF Champions League and MLS play. While it looked like Pareja was prepping the team for when Diaz comes back off his injury, he says that wasn’t the case.

“We have used that formation in different games,” Pareja said. “We have been more frequent in the [4-4-2]. We have terrific players here. Javi [Morales] is a fantastic player who can connect us and give us ideas and I thought we saw it.”

Even though Dallas were unbeaten during these 10 games, they still seemed to struggle in the final third. The defense has been rock solid, with Matt Hedges and Zimmerman anchoring the backline. Midfielder Kellyn Acosta is having a breakout year and Carlos Gruezo has shown why Dallas paid big money to bring him from Stuttgart.

Designated player Cristian Colman has come so close to a goal quite a few times during the season, but still, has zero to his name. Roland Lamah showed flashes of why he is the second highest player for Dallas on Saturday, creating opportunities by getting behind the defense, but still, has nothing to show for it.

The ideas are there, but there just seems to be a lack of creativity that Diaz brought to the club. It is more and more obvious how much Dallas needs Diaz in order to be a true MLS Cup contender.

“I think we weren’t just creative in attacking,” Acosta said. “We had some spurts of possession and I think we just lacked our dangerous play. Usually, we’re firing on all cylinders and we’re a tough team to face on the transition, on the ball, set pieces. We weren’t much of a threat.”

Dallas cannot dwell on this setback, as a busy week is ahead of them. On Thursday, they will travel to Chicago to play the Fire, who are currently on a three-game winning streak and are looking like a force in the Eastern Conference with new acquisition Bastian Schweinsteiger.

"Thursday is a big opportunity for all of us to get things going again," Acosta said. "To get back on the winning path."

The team will then turn around and play Houston at home Sunday in a nationally broadcasted rivalry game. The Dynamo have a lethal attack, as new head coach Wilmer Cabrera has done a great job getting Erick Torres back to his Chivas USA form, with nine goals in nine games. The additions of Alberth Ellis and Romell Quioto have provided speed lethal attack on the wings. Houston will also be hungry for a win after losing two straight on the road.

"Three games in a week is always tough," Zimmerman said. "We wanted to get the result at home, and now it gives us some urgency to respond in Chicago and pick up some points we might have dropped here."