Frisco, TX (Sunday, August 5, 2007) - The FC Dallas Reserves and Colorado Rapids Reserves played to a scoreless tie in a game played on the adidas Field at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday morning. The draw brings FCD's record to 2-3-1 (7 pts), while Colorado remains unbeaten in reserve play with a 4-0-2 record (14 pts).
Colorado created numerous chances early on, but could not connect. In the ninth minute, Colorado's Conor Casey hit a hard right-footed shot from close range forcing FCD's Boris Pardo to make the save. Three minutes later, Casey played a through ball for Omar Cummings, whose left-footed shot from inside the box had Pardo beaten, but hit the left post.
The momentum swung in FCD's favor in the 14th minute, when Bobby Rhine played a cross from the right flank, which bounced just out of the reach of forward Abe Thompson's outstretched leg, and into the hands of Rapids 'keeper Zack Thornton.
In the 20th minute, Casey was issued a yellow card for dissent and received another yellow just seconds later, for a hard sliding challenge on FCD defender Aaron Pitchkolan. For the remainder of the match, Dallas made the most of the one-player advantage by dominating possession and creating chances, but still could not find the back of the net.
Dallas had perhaps their best scoring chance in the 33rd minute when Abe Thompson ran onto a through ball that slipped behind the Colorado defense. Thompson collected the ball alone from 35 yards out causing Thornton to rush off his line. With an open net, Thompson shot the ball around the goalkeeper, but hit the crossbar and went out of touch for a goal kick.
FCD continued to dictate the run of play in the second half, when substitute Dominic Oduro's low right-footed shot from inside the box was denied by substitute goalkeeper Justin Hughes in the 70th minute. Minutes later, Scott Jones sent in a cross from the right to Chase Wileman, whose left-footed volley went wide left.
Colorado threatened to get on the board in the 82nd minute with the game's final solid chance by former Mexican international Daniel Osorno. Osorno, who made his MLS full team debut vs. FCD the night before, collected a ball from John DiRiamondo alone in the box, turned and attempted to push it past Pardo. However, the FCD keeper dove low to his left and deflected the ball out for a corner.
The FCD Reserves will next play the Columbus Crew Reserves on Sunday, August 12 on the adidas Field at Pizza Hut Park. The Colorado Rapids Reserves do not play again until September 9, when they travel to face Columbus.
FC Dallas Reserves (2-3-1): GK- Boris Pardo, D- Blake Wagner, D- Aaron Pitchkolan, D- Andrew Daniels, D- Michael Dello-Russo, M- David Wagenfuhr, M- Anthony Wallace, M- Marcelo Saragosa (Chase Wileman, 62), M- Bobby Rhine (Sandy Gbandi, 46), F- Abe Thompson (Dominic Oduro, 46) (Marquis Muse, 76), F- Scott Jones
Substitutes not used: Matt Wideman (GK), Ever Alvarado (g), Ramon Nunez
Colorado Rapids Reserves (4-0-2): GK- Zack Thornton (Justin Hughes, 46), D- Jordan Harvey, D- Stephen Keel, D- Cliff Wilmes, D- Kosuke Kimura (Galen Thompson, 29), M- Mehdi Ballouchy (Daniel Osorno, 60), M- Nick LaBrocca, M- Dan Gargan, M- John DiRiamando, F- Omar Cummings (Herculez Gomez, 78), F- Conor Casey
Substitutes not used: Terry Cooke, Jovan Kirovski
Misconduct:
COL - Conor Casey (Caution), 21
COL - Conor Casey (2nd Caution), 21
COL - Dan Gargan (Caution), 46
FCD - Boris Pardo (Caution), 85
