Sasha Gotsmanov tallied a pair of first-half goals and Fabrice Noel added one as the visiting Colorado Rapids Reserves (5-4-3) produced a 3-2 win over the FC Dallas Reserves (5-5-1) on Sunday morning at Pizza Hut Park.
The Rapids controlled play early in the game, maintaining constant possession of the ball. That paid dividends and in the 20th minute as Colorado opened the score through Gotsmanov. Dan Gargan sent a cross from the right that the defense was unable to clear, leaving it to fall to a wide open Gotsmanov, who smashed a shot to the left of FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Gomez for the 1-0 lead.
Colorado would strike again just three minutes later off a corner kick. Luchi Gonzalez sent a cross to the middle of the box that the defense couldn't clear. Fabrice Noel was well positioned to find the loose ball and fire a hard shot just inside the right post to give the Rapids a 2-0 lead in the 23rd minute.
Colorado added one more goal in the 36th minute when Gotsmanov received a through ball from Amir Lowery. Gotsmanov made a nice move on John Pulido and rocketed a shot past Gomez from 20 yards out for the 3-0 lead.
FC Dallas made a couple of substitutions early in the second half, in an attempt to cut the lead, and did exactly that in the 67th minute. Arturo Alvarez flighted in a nice cross from the right flank that a Colorado defender was unable to head away. The ball bounced was deflected by FC Dallas forward Mark Rowland and bounded to the right of Colorado 'keeper Bouna Coundoul to Tony McMannus who was wide open to push the ball to the back of the net, making the score 3-1.
The Rapids would lose a man in the 70th when Amir Lowery received a red card after a foul from behind to Arturo Alvarez. Dallas took advantage of this and was able to add another goal in the 80th minute. Arturo Alvarez controlled a nice pass in the middle of the box and took a shot that Coundoul couldn't hold onto. The rebound fell directly to Mark Rowland who put in the back of the net to halve the Rapids lead to 3-2.
FC Dallas had a couple of more chances late in the game but was unable to find the equalizer and slipped to its first defeat since September 18.
Scoring Summary:
COL - Sasha Gotsmanov 5 (Dan Gargan 1) 20'
COL - Fabrice Noel 2 (Luchi Gozalez 1) 23'
COL - Sasha Gotsmanov 6 (Amir Lowery) 36'
FCD - Tony McMannus 1 (Mark Rowland) 67'
FCD - Mark Rowland 1(unassisted) 80'
FC Dallas Reserves - Chris Gomez, Alex Yi, David Wagenfuhr (Joard Odera 63'), Winston Marshall, John Pulido (Marquise Muse 73'), Carey Talley, Arturo Alvarez, Tony McMannus (Josh Smith 46'), Mario Torres, Alex Woods (Dominick Schell 55'), Mark Rowland.
Head Coach: Colin Clarke
TOTAL SHOTS: 9, SHOTS ON GOAL 4, FOULS: 10, OFFSIDE: 1, CORNER KICKS: 4, SAVES: 3
New England Revolution Reserves - Joe Cannon (Bouna Coundoul 46'), Dan Gargan, Steven Keel, Amir Lowery, Josh Elbaum, Luchi Gonzalez, Leo Cullen, Fabrice Noel, Sasha Gotsmanov, Wolde Harris, Diego Serna (Alexandrre Boucicaut 75').
Head Coach: Fernando Clavijo
TOTAL SHOTS: 5, SHOTS ON GOAL 6, FOULS: 12, OFFSIDE: 2, CORNER KICKS: 4, SAVES: 2
Misconduct Summary:
FCD - Tony McMannus (yellow) 31'
FCD - Amir Lowery (yellow) 59'
FCD - Joard Odera (yellow) 63'
COL - Bouna Condoul (yellow) 68'
COL - Amir Lowey (red) 70'
FCD - Alex Yi (yellow) 82'
Attendance: 150; Weather: Sunny, 72 degrees
