The Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas played to a scoreless draw for the third time this season on Saturday night, this time going the full 90 minutes without a goal in their Western Conference Semifinal Series opener at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The sides will now journey to Texas to play the return leg next weekend at Pizza Hut Park.
The two sides could only produce seven goals in their four regular season meetings and the lack of offense continued in the cool Colorado air. Rapids head coach Fernando Clavijo opted to partner Jean Philippe Peguero with mid-season acquisition Jovan Kirovski up top, leaving Jeff Cunningham and his 12 regular-season goals scored on the bench. At the other end of the field, FC Dallas stuck with Roberto Mina, as head coach Colin Clarke kept Guatemalan international Carlos Ruiz bundled up with the other reserves.
But most of the game took place in the middle third as both sides struggled to create anything going forward. Ronnie O'Brien fired well high and wide from some 25 yards after a quarter-hour, while Kirovski saw his first attempt at 21 minutes blocked before it reached the target. Colorado's Alain Nkong was the first man to test a goalkeeper, as he hit a low effort that forced a diving save from Scott Garlick.
The pace of the game picked up after the intermission, with the Rapids finally pushing forward to try to gain an advantage in the series while still at home. Minutes after the restart, Israeli Dedi Ben-Dayan had a clear look at goal. However, he pulled his left-footed effort just wide of the far right post.
Ben-Dayan had another half chance shortly thereafter, but he couldn't pull the trigger after Peguero's hard collision with Garlick left the 'keeper scrambling.
Clarke tried to spark the Hoops' attack midway through the first half by inserting Ruiz into the action, but Clavijo countered moments later by throwing Cunningham into the mix.
Yet it was Colorado's Terry Cooke that had the next opportunity, putting plenty of power and good placement on a shot from the top of the box that Garlick tipped over the crossbar.
Ben-Dayan had one final chance three minutes before the end and it was the closest either club would come to getting on the score sheet. He flung himself through the air at the back post to get a head on a long, high cross from the left, but Garlick again preserved the shutout as he scurried across his line to punch the ball clear at the last possible second.
Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas, will host Game Two in one week's time, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. The winner will advance to the Western Conference Championship against either the Los Angeles Galaxy or San Jose Earthquakes, who open their semifinal series Sunday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Scott Garlick (FC Dallas)
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
