Goals from Arturo Alvarez, after just 51 seconds, and Kenny Cooper in the second half sent the New York Red Bulls to defeat for the first time in 2008, falling 2-0 to FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday night.
FC Dallas controlled the ball from the kickoff, and Andre Rocha took a pass about 25 yards from the Red Bulls box. He then sent in a great cross and Alvarez, who found some room in between New York's Chris Leitch and Seth Stammler, got his head on the end of it from about 15 yards out to beat New York goalkeeper Jon Conway.
Ironically enough, last week it was the Red Bulls who set a mark of their own for the quickest goal in club history after midfielder Dave van den Bergh put them ahead just 47 seconds into last Saturday's match with Columbus at Giants Stadium.
Alvarez's goal came just 20 seconds later than the quickest goal in FCD history. That landmark tally was scored by FCD defender Aaron Pitchkolan just 31 seconds into a May 22, 2005 match with Chivas USA.
The Red Bulls were playing without Juan Pablo Angel, who was sidelined with a left hamstring strain. The Colombian international did not train with the team the entire week.
FCD head coach Steve Morrow also faced the possibility of being without the Hoops' top offensive threat in Cooper. The Dallas native didn't train on Thursday or Friday due to a back problem but was cleared to play after a pregame fitness test and started up top alongside Alvarez.
In the 12th minute, the Hoops got another solid opportunity when they were awarded a free kick about 30 yards from goal. McCarty stepped up to take it and hit a well-placed ball that found FCD defender Drew Moor. But his header was right at Conway and he made the save.
From the opening whistle, FCD showed a proficiency in possession that has been absent for much of their first two matches of the season. Alvarez was especially active up top. Besides his goal, he had a shot from 25 yards out in the 17th that was saved by Conway.
And in the 21st, Ricchetti played a great ball to him over the top, creating a breakaway with only Conway to beat. Alvarez forced the New York 'keeper to make a decision and he guessed right, denying the FCD forward's bid for the brace.
New York finally had their first shot of the match in the 27th minute. Red Bulls forward Oscar Echeverry launched one from about 25 yards out but it went high over the FCD goal.
The Red Bulls had another chance just two minutes later. After Moor badly misplayed a ball to the left of the Hoops goal, New York midfielder Danleigh Borman took possession. The South African international sent a low cross just in front of the FCD net. Borman's pass went past Jozy Altidore before Echeverry met it near the far post, but his shot went high.
New York outshot FCD 6-4 in the opening half but all four of the Hoops' shots were on frame compared to just one shot on goal by the Red Bulls in the opening 45 minutes. Alvarez had three of FCD's four shots in the first frame.
The second half started off slowly for both sides. The first real action came in the 53rd when Echeverry was shown yellow by referee Jair Marrufo after a hard push on Serioux from behind.
In the 55th, Toja received a nice ball and got his head on the end of it. But the Colombian all-star midfielder wasn't able to get much on it and Conway made another stop.
Even though they were still trailing 1-0, the Red Bulls didn't let up. In the 61st, van den Bergh took a free kick about 25 yards from the FCD goal. His well-placed effort landed near the far post, where New York midfielder Luke Sassano got on the end of it but his header was saved by FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala.
Just four minutes later van den Bergh delivered another great chance on a set piece for the visitors. He sent another nice ball from a corner kick to the far post where Altidore was waiting, but his shot went high.
Cooper's goal, his third of the year, came in the 66th. Adrian Serioux sent a long ball that traveled nearly 50 yards before the Dallas native brought it down and chipped it over Conway's head. FCD is now 14-0-3 all-time when Cooper scores.
New York mounted a furious push to cut the deficit to a goal with less than 10 minutes left. In the 82nd, a shot by John Wolyniec went wide right, then in the 86th, one by Claudio Reyna was deflected. In the 88th another effort by Reyna went wide left just seconds before Mike Magee tried to beat Sala far post, but the FCD 'keeper was able to make the save on a weak shot.
Both sides resume play next weekend with the Red Bulls playing host to New England on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Giants Stadium. FCD next plays on Sunday, when they will face Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center in a 7 p.m. CT kickoff.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
