Arturo Alvarez's 60th-minute goal answering a Marcos Gonzalez header after just six minutes, and a Carlos Ruiz header in the 80th minute providing a second equalizer after Andy Herron scored a penalty kick. But then, after Marcelo Saragosa was sent off immediately after the Ruiz goal, Clarence Goodson headed home a corner from almost the game's final kick, for the winner.
The Crew opened their account early when Guillermo Barros Schelotto found Gonzalez inside the heart of the FC Dallas box on what was already the Crew's third corner of the evening. The Brazilian defender, who had beaten Hoops center back Adrian Serioux to the ball, got his head on the ball and put it past FC Dallas goalkeeper Ray Burse.
Schelotto was credited with his eighth assist of the year on the tally, just one behind current league leader Steve Ralston of New England. Gonzalez's goal was the first of his MLS career and it came in his 41st. Gonzalez's tally would be the only score of the first half.
After a hotly contested early portion of the second half, FC Dallas pulled level in the 60th minute. Dominic Oduro attempted a cross that deflected off Gonzalez, and Alvarez spun before lashing a quick left-footed shot that flashed past Will Hesmer inside the far post.
Yet the Crew took the lead back in the 74th minute. Chris Gbandi tackled Crew defender Frankie Hejduk to the right of the FC Dallas goal and referee Jorge Gonzalez pointed to the penalty spot. Herron, who entered the match in the 63rd minute for Alejandro Moreno, stepped up and kicked the ball high into the center of the goal as Burse dove to his left.
In the 81st, FCD again drew the match level when Ruiz netted his fourth goal of the year. The Guatemalan international received a cross from Saragosa at the far post and Ruiz then headed past Hesmer inside the left-hand post to tie the match at 2-2.
Any euphoria Saragosa had from that score was short-lived as on the ensuing kickoff, he delivered a devastating elbow to the throat of Grabavoy and was promptly shown a red card by the referee Gonzalez.
But Goodson delivered in the second minute of added time when he scored off a Dax McCarty corner kick for the game-winner. McCarty delivered an arcing corner from the right side, finding Goodson in the area, where he got his head on the ball near the right post and headed home.
The Crew kicked off, and barely seconds later, Gonzalez whistled the match to a conclusion.
Columbus will play host to D.C. United at Crew Stadium next Saturday, August 18, while FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo will square off next Sunday at Robertson Stadium in Houston.
Columbus Crew (6-6-8) vs. FC Dallas (11-6-3)
August 11, 2007 -- Pizza Hut Park
Scoring Summary:
CLB -- Marcos Gonzalez 1 (Guillermo Barros Schelotto 8) 6
DAL -- Arturo Alvarez 2 (unassisted) 60
CLB -- Andy Herron 3 (penalty kick) 74
DAL -- Carlos Ruiz 4 (Marcelo Saragosa 2, Chris Gbandi 1) 80
DAL -- Clarence Goodson 1 (Dax McCarty 6) 92+
Columbus Crew -- Will Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Marcos Gonzalez, Chad Marshall, Stefani Miglioranzi, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Ned Grabavoy, Danny O'Rourke, Danny Szetela, Eddie Gaven (Robbie Rogers 46), Alejandro Moreno (Andy Herron 63),
Substitutes Not Used: Jason Garey, Andy Gruenebaum, Ezra Hendrickson, Duncan Oughton, Rusty Pierce
FC Dallas -- Ray Burse, Drew Moor, Clarence Goodson, Adrian Serioux (Aaron Pitchkolan 20), Chris Gbandi, Dax McCarty, Pablo Ricchetti (Ricardinho 77), Marcelo Saragosa, Arturo Alvarez, Carlos Ruiz, Abe Thompson (Dominic Oduro 46),
Substitutes Not Used: Michael Dello-Russo, Boris Pardo, Bobby Rhine, David Wagenfuhr
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Referee's Assistants: Corey Rockwell; David Bragg
4th Official: Ricardo Salazar
Time Of Game: 1:53
Attendance: 14,818
Weather: Clear -and- 96 degrees
