FCD stretch West lead with victory
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for FC Dallas and extended their lead atop the Western Conference to six points ahead of Houston Dynamo, while the Rapids fell into a tie for fourth place and the final playoff spot in the conference with Real Salt Lake.
The game started with both teams attacking to little effect. It wasn't until the 10th minute that either team had a bonafide chance. The Rapids' Thiago Martins got his head to a free kick, but it went just wide.
Just after, Martins had another chance, again off a free kick, but his header went into a mass of players in front of goal and was cleared.
FC Dallas winger Ronnie O'Brien worked some of his magic in the 13th minute, using a great move to get past Eric Denton and get off a cross that was just barely too high for Nunez.
O'Brien and Nunez combined again in the 25th minute to allow Dallas take the lead. O'Brien played a curling cross from the right flank that Nunez directed out of Joe Cannon's reach just inside of the left post.
After the goal, the match was a frenetic affair, with the Rapids trying desperately to equalize. Dallas handled the pressure however.
A quick counterattack nearly netted the Rapids their first goal in the 32nd minute as a well struck low cross from Daniel Wasson on the left touchline was met by a surging Martins. But Martins' redirection caromed off the crossbar.
In the 39th minute, Dallas nearly had a carbon copy of their first goal. This time Nunez sent in the cross from the right, but it was just out of the reach of a diving Carlos Ruiz.
Hoops striker Kenny Cooper showed his moves in the 42nd minute, pushing the ball to one side of Jacob Peterson while running around him on the other side and into the box. His cross, however, was cleared.
Jovan Kirovski created a chance from nothing in the 44th minute. After a poorly played pass from Wasson, Kirovski emerged from a scrum of three Dallas defenders with the ball, but his shot was well saved by Dario Sala.
The Rapids twice came close to scoring in the 48th minute. From a corner, Martins sent a bullet header off of the crossbar that bounced straight down but not over the goal line. Immediately after, Kirovski collected the ball and sent a curling shot that went just past the post.
FC Dallas extended their lead in the 57th minute. Cooper dribbled into the box and laid the ball off to Richard Mulrooney, who stood at the top of the restraining arc unmarked. Mulrooney sent his shot caroming perfectly off the post and into the net past a helpless Cannon.
Cannon came quickly off of his line to prevent another goal in the 62nd minute. Cooper would have been alone on goal, but Cannon was able to reach the through pass at the top of the box just before Cooper got there.
Kirovski had another good shot from distance in the 66th minute, but again his ball went just wide of the left post. The long distance shots from the Rapids continued, with Mathis forcing a save from Sala in the 66th minute and substitute Colin Clark going just over in the 67th minute.
O'Brien nearly got a goal of his own in the 76th minute, but his blistering shot from the top of the box went just wide.
The game became somewhat ragged in the final minutes, with both teams making sloppy all-out attacks that were foiled by poor passing and overeager shots.
Dallas had two final chances in stoppage time. First O'Brien and Mulrooney combined for a quick one-two that left O'Brien free for a shot at the top of the box that sailed harmlessly over. Just after, substitute David Wagenfuhr rifled a shot from nearly the same spot and it too went just over.
Martins had one final header off of a corner -- that again went just wide -- before the game ended giving Dallas a deserved win that increased their margin atop the Western Conference.
Geoffrey Urland is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
FC Dallas
(13-8-3)
vs. Colorado Rapids
(9-10-5)
August 30, 2006 -- Invesco Field at Mile High
Scoring Summary:
DAL --
Ramon Nunez 6
(Ronnie O'Brien 5, Richard Mulrooney 5)
25
DAL --
Richard Mulrooney 1
(Kenny Cooper 4, Ronnie O'Brien 6)
57
FC Dallas -- Dario Sala, Drew Moor, Clarence Goodson, Bobby Rhine, Chris Gbandi, Ronnie O'Brien, Richard Mulrooney, Simo Valakari, Carlos Ruiz (Aaron Pitchkolan 81), Ramon Nunez (David Wagenfuhr 71), Kenny Cooper (Dominic Oduro 71).
Substitutes Not Used: Arturo Alvarez, Shaka Hislop, Abe Thompson, Greg Vanney
Colorado Rapids -- Joe Cannon, Aitor Karanka, Mike Petke (Chris Wingert 46), Eric Denton (Colin Clark 59), Dan Gargan, Jovan Kirovski (Fabrice Noel 80), Clint Mathis, Daniel Wasson, Jacob Peterson, Nicolas Hernandez, Thiago Martins,
Substitutes Not Used: Matt Jordan, Stephen Keel, Alain Nkong, Melvin Tarley
| Colorado Rapids | FC Dallas | |||
| total shots: | 11 | (Thiago Martins 5) | 9 | (Ramon Nunez 4) |
| shots on goal: | 2 |
(Jovan Kirovski 1, Clint Mathis 1) | 3 | (Ramon Nunez 2) |
| fouls: | 12 | (Thiago Martins 5) | 15 | (Carlos Ruiz 3) |
| offsides: | 0 | 2 |
(Carlos Ruiz 1, Dominic Oduro 1) |
|
| corner kicks: | 9 | (Clint Mathis 5) | 1 | (Ramon Nunez 1) |
| saves: | 1 | (Joe Cannon 1) | 2 | (Dario Sala 2) |
Misconduct Summary:
COL -- Thiago Martins (caution; Pushing, Holding) 28
DAL -- Drew Moor (caution; Reckless Foul) 35
DAL -- Ramon Nunez (caution; Delaying a Restart) 54
DAL -- Bobby Rhine (caution; Reckless Foul) 69
DAL -- Simo Valakari (caution; Reckless Foul) 84
referee: Andrew Chapin
Referee's Assistants: Craig Lowry; Jose Corro
4th official: Scott McCaslin
time of game: 1:51
attendance: 4,328
weather: Partly Cloudy -and- 78 degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
