Wednesday, May 28, 2008

FC Dallas 2, Houston Dynamo 2

By Erin Rice

The last time these Texas rivals met, it was a dramatic match-up in which Houston scored an overtime goal to bring the result to a 3-3 draw. Houston enters the game coming off a disappointing, week old loss to San Jose, while FC Dallas snapped their four-game losing streak with a win (their first game under new head coach Marco Ferruzzi) against Real Salt Lake.

fc.dallas.mlsnet.com

Our love for Kenny Cooper grows with each passing game.

In the 26th minute, Kenny Cooper set up Dallas’ best chance thus far in the game. After receiving a pass on the left side, he touched toward the end line and slotted a pass across the face of the goal, skipping past the Dynamo’s defense. Despite the open goal, Saragosa was unable to find the net, potentially due to a last minute hop the ball took as he struck it.

But Cooper got his chance again in the 35th minute. FCD was awarded the free kick near the center circle. Richetti took the kick and found Cooper on the back side of the Houston defense. Cooper brought the ball down with an instep trap, turned towards the net, set up his shot and curved the ball around goalkeeper Pat Onstad to find the right, inside netting. The game opening goal marked Cooper’s sixth of the season.

Houston came to life in the last five minutes in the first half. In the 42nd minute, FCD’s ‘keeper Dario Sala completed an extension dive to keep Dallas on top, but the deflection gave Houston a corner kick. Defender Adrian Serioux fell asleep on the far post, giving forward Eddie Robinson an opportunity on the open goal… but he, like Saragosa in the 26th, missed the prime opportunity, sending the ball far over the crossbar.

In stoppage time Cooper ripped a shot that screamed just wide of the right post, taking the game into halftime.

Coming into the second half, FCD’s Duilio Davino reinjured his ankle, requiring Aaron Pitchkolan to replace him in the defense. A prophesy for the rest of the half for Dallas?

houston.mlsnet.com

Dwayne De Rosario. We don't like him much. In fact, we tend to make fun of all Dwaynes, Dwaines, and the like.

It was, at least for the next 20 minutes. Dallas, visibly resting on their one-goal lead, lost it in the 58th minute. Brian Ching received the ball in Dallas' penalty box with his back to the goal. He spun around his player to face up to the goal and as Sala went down to block the shot, Ching touched it to Corey Ashe a few feet away who easily found the net.

But Dallas would regain their lead ten minutes later. In the 68th minute, Cooper worked the ball down the right sideline, earning a corner for his team. Andre Rocha took the kick, finding an unmarked Drew Moor on the far side. Jumping up over the crowd (a mighty jump considering Drew Moor’s stature, which was undoubtedly fudged a few inches to 6'0" on the team roster, *scoff*) and powers a header home for Dallas’ second goal of the match.

The game devolved towards the 77th minute when Saragosa, en route to the goal, pushed Eddie Robinson in the back of the head. Robinson proceeded to turn around and two-hand shove Saragosa in the chest. When the two teams were exchanging “words,” Andre Rocha stepped into the mix and gave Robinson a tap-tap-taparoo in the face. Saragosa and Robinson received cautions while Rocha was ejected. However, Robinson received a yellow earlier in the half, resulting in his ejection as well. Heading into the final stretch, both teams were down to 10-a-side.

Abe Thompson replaced Cooper in the 87th minute and got his chance on goal two minutes later, but was unable to break completely free of his defender, hampering his shot.

With four minutes of stoppage time called to make up for the earlier cluster-scuffle, both teams exchange shots, but Houston was the only to capitalize.

In the 93rd minute of play, Ashe sent a cross from the right side, finding Ching’s head. Ching aimed the header to score just under the crossbar, but Sala got a hand up to keep the ball out of the net. It hit the frame, however, and bounced out to De Rosario, who slotted it home as Sala is forced to watch from the other side of the goal line.

As in their previous match-up, Houston was able steal FCD's glory at the last minute(s). Ultimately, the joke is on them, because they are forced to live in Houston.

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