A pair of second-half goals from Kenny Cooper led FC Dallas to a 2-0 win against a nine-man Toronto FC on Sunday evening at BMO Field.
A controversial red card to midfielder Amado Guevara led to a Dallas penalty kick in the 80th minute that Cooper converted to give the Hoops a lead they would not relinquish. FCD picked up their second road win of the season and improved to 17-1-6 all-time when Cooper has scored at least one goal.
The Reds, meanwhile, lost their first league game at home since Sept. 22, 2007, a streak of 11 games, as they were shut out for a third consecutive league game at home. The defeat extends Toronto's winless streak in all competitions to nine games (not including two friendlies). The news got worse for Toronto as newly acquired striker Chad Barrett left in the 70th minute with a leg injury.
Barrett was making his first appearance with Toronto since being dealt on Wednesday from Chicago as the centerpiece of a package for Toronto's allocation rights to striker Brian McBride. Barrett's five goals this season for Chicago equals Danny Dichio's team-leading five goals for the Reds.
With the recent transfer of All-Star Juan Toja, the trade of Arturo Alvarez to San Jose, Dax McCarty off with the U.S. Olympic team and a toe injury to team captain Duilio Davino, the Hoops' starting XI had a new look. Veteran Aaron Pitchkolan took Davino's spot at center back while rookie Eric Avila made his second consecutive start in the midfield.
Dallas found themselves making an unwanted lineup change just seven minutes into the match. Midfielder Marcelo Saragosa suffered a right calf strain and limped off the field to be replaced by Michael Dello-Russo.
Saragosa's injury was the only notable incident in the first few minutes, as both sides battled for possession in the early going. The Dallas back line played the Reds tight, blocking several attempts at passes or shots nearly as soon as the ball had left a Toronto foot.
All eyes were on Barrett in the third-year forward's TFC debut. He collected an outlet pass from Jeff Cunningham in the 14th minute and nearly had a one-on-one situation with Hoops goalkeeper Dario Sala, but Barrett was a few steps offside.
The Reds had a pair of chances in the next two minutes off of two Laurent Robert corner kicks. Cunningham found space on the left side but missed the ball on a header attempt. A minute later it was Marco Velez who was unmarked on the left side after a corner, but the center back's point-blank shot was stopped by Sala.
Another Toronto corner attempt in the 27th minute gave FC Dallas another injury scare. Velez collided with Sala in the goal area on the play and the Hoops 'keeper needed a few minutes' worth of medical attention after the knock. Sala ultimately stayed in the game while Velez was given a caution.
While TFC had probably the better chances in the first half, the Hoops actually held a 6-4 shot advantage. Dallas managed three shots on goal but none provided Reds goalkeeper Greg Sutton with much of a challenge.
Sutton had much more to do at the start of the second half, as the Hoops' attack burst out with three shots in the first five minutes including a close-range shot from striker Dominic Oduro in the 50th minute.
While Dallas outshot TFC 6-1 in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, both sides looked somewhat listless on attack. Dallas substituted Bruno Guarda into the game for Andre Rocha and TFC sent in Tyler Hemming for Julius James as the two clubs looked to jumpstart their offense.
The immediate result was a chance for Barrett, who was on the spot to collect a poor clearance from a Hoops defender and sent a shot high over the net. Barrett was shaken up on the play and the BMO Field supporters had to watch their newest hero leave the game with an apparent injury. A stretcher was brought onto the field but Barrett was able to leave the pitch under his own power.
The turning point in the game took place in the 79th minute. Amado Guevara was given an off-the-ball red card for a foul on Pablo Ricchetti in the penalty area as they looked to get on the end of a Cooper service, leaving the Dallas midfielder with a bloodied nose.
Cooper sent the shot left as Sutton went right, and Dallas took the lead. It was Cooper's 12th goal of the season, setting a new career high for the Hoops forward.
The Reds bitterly contested the call, and Toronto captain Jim Brennan was booked for further dissent in the 81st minute. The impact of referee Baldomero Toledo continued when Velez was sent off for his second caution in the 84th minute, reducing TFC to nine men.
Dallas put the game away a few seconds into injury time. Cooper took a 30-yard strike that sailed past a diving Sutton and into the left side of the net.
TFC goes on the road to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, looking to improve on their three points away from BMO Field, lowest of any MLS side away from home. FC Dallas heads to Columbus for the second of the Hoops' three-game road trip, now sitting just two points from the top spot in the West.
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
