For the second year running, the Colorado Rapids eliminated FC Dallas in a penalty-kick shootout at Pizza Hut Park, winning the post-match decider 5-4 after defeating the 10-man Hoops 3-2 over 120 minutes to leave their Western Conference Semifinal Series level on aggregate.
Carlos Ruiz had given FC Dallas the lead on the night and a two-goal cushion on aggregate just after the second-half restart, but Nicolas Hernandez scored twice -- the second with seven minutes remaining in regulation time -- to pull the Rapids level in the series. Clarence Goodson then sent a header home two minutes into the extra-time session, but another Colorado wonder goal in overtime -- this one from Clint Mathis -- again sent the teams into a penalty shootout in Frisco.
After the teams converted four of their regulation five attempts, FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala tried his luck, and his shot was stopped by Rapids 'keeper Joe Cannon. Colorado's Pablo Mastroeni then converted his spot kick to send the Rapids into the Western Conference Championship for a second consecutive year.
The Hoops played with 10 men after left back Chris Gbandi was sent off in the 29th minute. The veteran defender was ejected after a hard tackle on Colorado defender Matt Crawford. Ironically enough, the red card, which was the second of his career, came on the same day in which he was honored as FCD's Defender of the Year in a pregame ceremony.
Colorado clearly had the bulk of scoring chances in the first half and outshot the Hoops by a 7-4 margin. Kyle Beckerman had the Rapids first shot of the game in the fourth minute after Hernandez got behind FCD right back Bobby Rhine but was unable to execute a shot of any substance.
Then in the 27th minute, Hernandez nearly put the visitors ahead after receiving a free kick from Mathis, but his effort was knocked over the crossbar by Sala.
The Hoops best chance of the opening frame came in the 35th minute when center back Drew Moor nearly got his first career playoff goal off a diving header, which went to the right of the goal. Moor fell face-first onto the field and suffered a gash across the bridge of his nose. The FCD training staff attended to him on the endline before he returned to the field in the 40th minute.
Both teams started out the second frame playing inspired soccer. In the 47th, Mathis had a nice look on goal, but Sala was well-positioned for the stop. Ronnie O'Brien also had a great look of his own in the 47th for the Hoops, but his blast off a free kick went wide left.
Ruiz started off the evening's scoring with a tally in the 48th minute, his record-setting 15th career MLS postseason goal. The play started when Hoops center back Greg Vanney took a quick free kick, which the veteran one-touched over to O'Brien, who then sent the ball toward the far post, where Ruiz was waiting. Ruiz then chested the ball down and put it past Cannon.
Not even 10 minutes later, Colorado answered when Hernandez hit for his first career postseason tally. It came after he received a lob from Kyle Beckerman at the far post and in the challenge for the high ball among a host of Dallas defenders saw the ball bounce off his back, putting it far enough over the end line to level the match at 1.
Hernandez then added the all-important second tally in the 84th off a corner kick. Beckerman swung in the corner and Jovan Kirovski challenged for it in the heart of the area. But it fell invitingly to Hernandez, completely unmarked in front of goal, and he turned and fired past Sala to give the visitors the 2-1 edge on the night.
But more importantly, the goal leveled the series at two goals each on aggregate, and sent the game into a half hour of extra time.
It didn't take long, though, for FCD to reclaim the advantage. Goodson scored his first-ever postseason goal when he sent a glancing header past Cannon in the 92nd minute. Vanney swung in a free kick from the right flank, for his second assist on the evening, and Goodson rose up above his defender to knock it home inside the far post with the finest of touches.
Minutes later, Mathis looked to pull his side level yet again at 2, but the veteran midfielder was whistled offside after tapping home a Beckerman pass. He had another bid for the equalizer denied in the 99th when Sala sent his effort over the crossbar.
Just before the teams changed ends for the second of the two 15-minute extra sessions, each team went close. O'Brien had another great chance off yet another free kick, but his effort went wide right. Then, at the other end of the field, Beckerman had another great look when he skipped in alone on goal, but Sala made a miraculous save, reaching over his head to parry his shot away from danger.
Mathis finally struck gold in the 114th minute when he sent an absolute rocket past Sala from about 25 yards out that beat the Argentinian 'keeper inside his left-hand post to give Colorado a 3-2 lead. It also again deadlocked the aggregate at 4-4, and once again meant that the teams would face a penalty shootout.
From the spot, FC Dallas converted on four of their six kicks, with Vanney hitting the post with the fourth chance. The Rapids hit on their first four chances, but with a chance to clinch the series, Sala saved Aitor Karanka's bid. Sala then saw his own chance blocked by Cannon, setting the stage for Mastroeni's heroics.
With the loss, Colorado eliminated FCD from the postseason for the second straight year and for the fourth time overall. The Rapids head to the Western Conference Championship next weekend, where they will travel to either Houston or Chivas USA, pending the outcome of Sunday's second leg in their semifinal series.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
