Quantcast

Jump to: site navigation, content.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

FC Dallas 2, Colorado Rapids 2

By Erin Rice

Email Print Tell us your story Comment

Looking at the stats, it would appear that an FC Dallas victory is dependent on one thing. Be it through the run of play or a penalty kick, FCD is 16-1-6 when Kenny Cooper scores a goal. This is soccer, of course, and rarely can a team in this sport rely solely on the efforts of a single player, but it's a rather convincing statistic that played out once again in Saturday evening's home game against the Colorado Rapids.

FC Dallas' chance for a win was, uh, swept away by the Rapids?

FC Dallas' chance for a win was, uh, swept away by the Rapids?

Minutes into the game, it appeared that Colorado had FCD's number, as Herculez Gomez finished a mishandled trap from Dallas defender Adrian Serioux. Looking up, Gomez found the left side netting, shooting across and beating goalkeeper Dario Sala in the fifth minute.

But Dallas didn't let down, instead giving the Colorado defense more headaches than they took. Rapids keeper Bouna Coundoul managed to keep the Dallas shots out of the net, and despite a few dropped balls, FCD couldn't seem to get the goal. A less than stellar rebound from Juan Toja early on and a sailed rebound from Dominic Oduro later capped off a half that fell just short of the equalizer.

Dallas wouldn't have to wait long into the second half, however, to get one on the board. A long ball brought Coundoul out of his box only to be a step behind Cooper who sent the ball into towards the center of the penalty area. Oduro contested the ball and was elbowed (then flew a number of feet into the air) by defender Facundo Erpen. Cooper stepped up the penalty marker and with an exaggerated stutter step in his run, easily beat Coundoul for the 49th minute goal.

Dallas' next goal would come 15 minutes later off a cross from Marcelo Saragosa. Coundoul would, once again, come off his line to challenge, but was beaten, once again, in the air by the ever-so-tall-for-a-forward Cooper. Cooper's header went to Toja in front of an open net, a shot that easily found the back of the net.

Their lead would be short lived, however, as Conor Casey headed home the second Rapids goal off an expertly placed cross from Christian Gomez. Both sides would press forward in the last 20 minutes of play but the score stayed 2 all.

Since taking on head coaching duties about a month ago, Schellas Hyndman has yet to get his first MLS victory. FCD is now 4-6-7 on the season in 6th place in the Western Conference. As tight as the Western Conference is, a single tie could move the team into 5th place, a win into 3rd place, as they sit just five points away from Real Salt Lake in first.

GAME 17 – July 19, 2008

FC DALLAS 2, COLORADO 2

Pizza Hut Park – Frisco, TX

Scoring:

COL -- Herculez Gomez 2 (Mehdi Ballouchy 2) 5

DAL -- Kenny Cooper 9 (penalty kick) 49

DAL -- Juan Toja 2 (Kenny Cooper 2, Marcelo Saragosa 1) 64

COL -- Conor Casey 3 (Christian Gomez 6, Terry Cooke 6) 67

FC DALLAS (3-4-1-2): Dario Sala (GK), Adrian Serioux, Duilio Davino, Drew Moor, Dax McCarty (Arturo Alvarez 72), Pablo Ricchetti (Eric Avila 77), Marcelo Saragosa, Andre Rocha, Juan Toja, Kenny Cooper, Dominic Oduro.

Subs Not Used: Josh Lambo (GK), Abe Thompson, Aaron Pitchkolan, Brek Shea, Blake Wagner.

Shots – 15; Shots on Goal – 9; Total Saves – 1; Fouls – 17; Offsides – 3; Corner Kicks – 4

COLORADO: Bourna Coundoul (GK), Facundo Erpen, Pablo Mastroeni, Ugo Ihemulu, Nick LaBrocca, Mehdi Ballouchy, Terry Cooke, Christian Gomez (Omar Cummings 89), Colin Clark (Jacob Peterson 83), Herculez Gomez (Jose Burciaga 71), Conor Casey.

Subs Not Used: Preston Burpo (GK), Greg Dalby, John DiRaimondo, , Mike Petke.

Shots – 10; Shots on Goal – 3; Total Saves – 7; Fouls – 11; Offsides – 2; Corner Kicks – 5

Misconduct Summary:

COL -- Colin Clark (caution) 53

COL -- Nick LaBrocca (caution) 58

DAL -- Juan Toja (caution) 61

DAL -- Dax McCarty (caution) 66

DAL -- Marcelo Saragosa (caution) 73

Notes:

FC Dallas is now 4-6-7, 19 pts on the season. The team is 3-2-4 at home and 2-3-6 versus Western Conference opponents.

· Dallas holds a 23-15-7 all-time record against the Colorado Rapids, 16-4-3 at home, and 4-0-2 at Pizza Hut Park. FCD will face the Rapids for the final time this season on Sept. 4, again at PHP.

· FCD remains unbeaten in 14 straight home games against Colorado (11-0-3), with the last home loss coming on May 5, 2001 at the Cotton Bowl.

· This was the third consecutive regular season game in which FCD came back to earn a point after being down at the half. Dallas is now 0-4-3 when trailing at halftime.

· Kenny Cooper tonight scored his third goal in the last five games and his 10th in all competitions this year. The penalty kick goal in the 49th minute was Dallas’ first goal scored from the spot this season.

· Dallas is now 16-1-6 when Cooper scores a goal.

· Juan Toja scored his second goal of the year, assisted by Kenny Cooper and Marcelo Saragosa.

· Both Cooper and Toja will represent FC Dallas in the 2008 MLS All-Star game next Thurs. July 24 at BMO Field in Toronto (live on ESPN at 6 p.m. CT).

· Dax McCarty started his fifth game of the season, and first since April 24 versus New England. McCarty underwent sports hernia surgery on May 15, and had entered as a sub in four game since.

· Marcelo Saragosa will miss the next regular season game due to yellow card accumulation.

· Dallas is 1-6-4 when allowing the first goal of the game.

· FCD was without goalkeeper Ray Burse (R ankle) and midfielder Bobby Rhine (L ankle) due to injuries.

· Tonight’s game was FCD’s first action since the July 8 U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal versus the Charleston Battery, and first regular season game since July 4, a 1-1 tie with the Kansas City Wizards.

· Tonight’s attendance was 12,289.

· FCD next faces the Los Angeles Galaxy at Pizza Hut Park on Sun. July 27 (6 p.m. CT live on FSN-SW).

Match notes and statistics provided by FC Dallas Communications

See more stories in:

Post a comment

(Requires free PegasusNews.com account.)


Password: (Forgotten your password?)


Find...

an event a Pegasus Pick
a restaurant a garage sale
a drink special a movie showtime
a band an organization
a job a political contribution
a house a deal
a holiday event a pet

Add...

an event a garage sale
a lost pet a band
a story a photo

Today

Kate Gilmore: Girl Fight Kate Gilmore's Girl Fight is an exhibition of video works featuring the artist negotiating the various obstacles women face, often while wearing a dress, heels, and makeup. Initially humorous, the action unfolds with increasing discomfort for Gilmore and the viewer. More info

Blogs

See more

Latest comments

See more recent comments

Latest reviews

  • DC on Himalayan Aroma: In the meantime, we’re still craving Tibetan butter tea. Following our minor success using the pegge...
  • RussJFK on Burgundy Steak and Seafood: Denton is just not ready for $48 steaks, too many college age people live there. Why don’t people us...
  • rtkccarroll on Burgundy Steak and Seafood: Enjoyed the service and ambiance, but the food was well below par. When you pay $48 for a steak, it ...

See more recent reviews