Excellent goalkeeping from Dario Sala and opportunistic goals from Carlos Ruiz and Abe Thompson gave FC Dallas a 2-1 victory in the first game of their Western Conference Semifinal Series against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night at Invesco Field at Mile High.
FC Dallas did not play like a regular season conference winner for most of the night, outshot 18-6 by the Rapids, but had the advantage in goals, the only statistic that matters.
Dallas looked much more cohesive in the early going, with the Rapids sending long balls to players that weren't making runs and mis-hitting passes out of play.
Nevertheless, the Rapids had the first scoring opportunity in the seventh minute. Kyle Beckerman played a nice cutback pass to Nicolas Hernandez at the top of the penalty area. Hernandez had time to set up a hard, low shot, but FCD 'keeper Dario Sala did well to smother the ball.
Sala nearly cost his team dearly in the eighth minute by coming way out of his box to play the ball and shanking it before colliding with teammate Bobby Rhine. Luckily for Dallas, the ball fell to Richard Mulrooney, who was able to get it out of trouble.
Thiago Martins nearly put one in for the Rapids in the 14th minute. Running on to a long through ball behind the FC Dallas defense, he went in alone on Sala, but only the quick reaction of the Argentinian 'keeper in coming off his line and smothering the ball on the Colorado striker's foot ended the threat.
Yet it was Dallas that struck first. Carlos Ruiz spun past Aitor Karanka to collect a throw-in from the left flank and stormed in to the area. With three Rapids defenders on his heels, Ruiz was able to slot the ball under Joe Cannon and into the net for his 14th career playoff goal in 14 games.
Chris Gbandi had another excellent chance for the Hoops in the 20th minute. Receiving a nice pass from Kenny Cooper, Gbandi danced around the ball a few seconds before sending a curling left-footed shot that was just out of Cannon's reach before it narrowly passed over the bar.
Hernandez had looked the most dangerous of all the Rapids and nearly scored in the 21st minute. Rising into the air to meet a Terry Cooke free kick, Hernandez was able to beat the taller Dallas defenders to the ball but his effort went wide of the goal.
The Rapids did tie the game just moments later. Stealing the ball near midfield, Hernandez stormed to the edge of the area on the counter. He laid the ball off to Beckerman, whose pass into the box was chested down by Martins, who spun and hammered the ball goalward. Sala's dive at full stretch was just able to touch it onto his right-hand post.
The rebound flew back across the goal and fell to Cooke, who was wide open to the right of the penalty area. Gbandi and Sala made a valiant effort to recover, but neither was able to stop Cooke's low, hard shot. It was Cooke's first goal of the season.
After the goals, the play was much more physical and much more end-to-end, with neither team able to maintain much meaningful possession. But the Rapids missed on a few chances to take the lead.
Yet another quick attack led to yet another Hernandez scoring chance in the 42nd minute. Cooke, who had moved inside to receive a pass from Beckerman, played the ball on the right to Hernandez who had moved outside in response. Hernandez cut inside and, after fooling Gbandi, sent a low shot to Sala's left, but the 'keeper was able to get down to make the save.
Hernandez came close yet again in stoppage time. Peterson cut the ball back from the touchline to Hernandez who beat Rhine on the dribble and had only Sala to beat from the top of the goal area. But Sala once again stymied his countryman, making an amazing kick save on Hernandez's shot to turn the ball away for a corner.
After the break, Dallas started the brighter of the teams, and it eventually made the difference in the match. First, only a great save from Cannon kept them from retaking the lead. From midfield, Cooper played the ball ahead to Ruiz, who dribbled far into the Rapids' half before playing the ball back to the wide-open Cooper. Cannon, however, did a great job of getting off his line to cut down the angle and smother Cooper's shot.
It was Thompson who then broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. From the right sideline, Ronnie O'Brien crossed the ball all the way across the field to Thompson, who was completely unmarked in the Rapids' box. After trapping the ball down with the outside of his foot, he coolly slotted the ball past Cannon from just inside the goal area for his first career playoff goal.
O'Brien nearly created another goal in the 67th minute. From nearly the same spot as his earlier assist, O'Brien played a low cross into the Rapids' box for Thompson. But Cannon was just able to get to it in time to make the save.
Clint Mathis, a second half substitute, almost tied the game for the Rapids in the 72nd minute. Playing the ball outside to Cooke, he drifted into the middle where he was able to head Cooke's subsequent cross barely over the bar.
The Rapids desperately attacked as the game drew to a close, but the lead seemed to compose FCD's previously shaky defense. The Rapids did appear to score in the 85th minute, but Martins' strike was called back due to an earlier foul by Hernandez.
Martins' night was over soon after, as he was ejected for elbowing Clarence Goodson in the ribs as they jostled before a throw-in.
Mathis had another chance to tie it in stoppage time, but his wicked free kick strike was parried by Sala out for a corner.
The Dallas victory gives them the advantage heading into the second game of the series, set for Sat., Oct. 28 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. A draw or a win will send the Hoops into the Western Conference Championship on their own field; the Rapids have to win by two clear goals to ensure advancement, while a one-goal victory after 90 minutes will send the game into extra time and potentially into a penalty kick shootout.
Geoffrey Urland is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
