A Kenny Cooper goal once again proved to be all FC Dallas needed, as they held on for a 1-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park.
FC Dallas have won eight games on the season, seven of those decided by a one-goal margin, a significant change for a team that went 6-6 in one-goal games a year ago.
The game's only goal came in the 32nd minute as Richard Mulrooney and Carlos Ruiz combined with some quick passing to find Kenny Cooper in the box for his sixth goal of the season.
Rapids goalkeeper Joe Cannon had his hands full in the first half, as the Dallas attack was created some real clear opportunities. Ramon Nunez returned to the lineup from injury, and he and fellow flank midfielder Ronnie O'Brien each had three shots at goal while the strike pair of Ruiz and Cooper had numerous chances in the opening minutes of the game.
But despite all the early chances it was the Rapids who nearly struck first in the 20th minute. Nicolas Hernandez found Jovan Kirovski with a nice through ball to the end line where he pulled a great pass back to the feet of Hernandez. He fired a shot into a crowd of three defenders in front of FCD 'keeper Dario Sala, and the chance never made it through to goal.
The home side then took the lead in the 32nd minute as Richard Mulrooney played a great ball into the box to Ruiz, who found Cooper. He was able to beat Hunter Freeman to the ball and put his shot inside the far post to put Dallas into the lead.
Just before halftime the Rapids nearly tied the score as Hernandez found Dedi Ben Dayan in the left side of the box. The Israeli international, who had three goals in his last four games, fired an angled shot from about 10 yards out, but Sala was able to get a hand on it to push the shot aside.
FCD's Roberto Mina nearly doubled the lead in the 81st minute when he nearly finished off a great drive up the left side of the field, but his attempt was tipped wide by Cannon. On the ensuing corner, Hoops defender Drew Moor hit a great header, but right at Cannon.
In the 85th, the visitors showed they still had some fight left as Thiago Martins made a great move to bring the ball into the FCD penalty area. A carom landed at the feet of Colorado's Kyle Beckerman about 10 yards to the left of the Hoops goal, but his shot went high.
Just before the final whistle blew, Colorado's Fabrice Noel nearly allowed the Rapids to steal a point as he had a one-on-one opportunity with Sala after splitting two defenders, but his bid for the equalizer was denied by the FCD 'keeper and the Hoops won for the fourth time in five games.
Scott Joiner is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
