The goals didn¹t come the way FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow would have liked. But his team got the result they needed against the Charleston Battery in overtime all the same, propelling the Hoops into the semifinals of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
A year ago, the USL First Division Battery pushed the Hoops to penalty kicks at Blackbaud Stadium in the third round of the Open Cup, after Kenny Cooper netted his third goal of the night to draw Dallas level after the Battery fought back twice to tie the game and then go ahead in overtime.
"We knew going in it would be a difficult game," Morrow said. "Charleston is always a tough team to beat at home. We missed some chances, but got the result."
And it looked like it was going to be another long night for the Hoops after the Battery's Stephen Armstrong's incredible 35-yard blast put the home club in the lead in the 17th minute. The left-footed drive bent and dipped away from Dallas 'keeper Ray Burse, who did manage to get a glove to a ball destined for the goal.
"It was a beautiful goal," Morrow said. "Not much anyone could have done about it." In fact, the curling drive made Kerry Zavagnin¹s MLS goal of the week strike two weeks ago look almost pedestrian by comparison.
But the difference between the two clubs became evident, despite the Battery's resolute defending. Dallas easily held the run of play, and with numbers going forward, it became obvious it would only be a matter of time before they found the back of the net. "Our quality came through," Morrow said. "We kept our composure."
That composure -- and physical domination -- led to Clarence Goodson¹s goal-crashing header off a Dax McCarty corner in the 23rd minute. Goodson nearly struck again five minutes later, again bulldozing his way through the Battery defense but failed to find the mark.
With the score level, things became a little worrisome when Juan Toja went down after a hard tackle. The MLS All-Star popped right back up -- as is his nature -- but hobbled around the field for the remainder of the half and was taken out at the intermission.
"I thought I twisted it," Toja said. "I tried to walk it off but it kept hurting so I could not continue to play." Toja was walking after the game, with only a little limp and there was no noticeable swelling, and will be evaluated on Wednesday after the team returns to Dallas.
Dominic Oduro was brought on in Toja's stead, moving Alvarez to a wide role from his more forward position in the first half as the Hoops assumed a 4-4-2 alignment. And without the presence of Toja in the middle of the field and Carlos Ruiz up front -- who has been suffering from a sore foot and came to Charleston on a uncertain if he could be used, sitting in the stands -- Dallas lacked much offensive punch. The stifling 90-plus degree heat with equal humidity didn't help much either, and actually worked in the Battery¹s favor.
The Battery, a well-coached second tier club, came out in the second half looking to slow the game down as much as possible. Players argued over who was going to take throw-ins and free kicks, and seemed in no hurry to go forward when they had the ball. Only in the last few minutes did the Battery bring on fresh legs up front in Jordan Hughes and Aaron King, both strong, speedy players, but the steady Dallas back four kept them in check, and all but forced the Battery to hope for the best against an untested Burse in penalty kicks.
But Alvarez saw that it didn't go that far, with his Preki-esque cutback in the 95th minute that sent the Battery's veteran goalkeeper Dusty Hudock scurrying to the far side of the goal to set himself for a cross, leaving the near post wide open for Alvarez to calmly place a left-footed shot a couple feet inside.
"I like that move," Alvarez said. "I like to sit out on the right and get the ball and cut in."
The goal was Alvarez¹s fourth in the last five games. "He's scored some very important goals for us lately," Morrow said. "He did very well tonight."
The same can't be said for the dozen or so members of the Inferno who made the trek to Charleston. Someone in the small but vocal bunch got the group thrown out of their section by letting off a smoke bomb. The smoke hung in the still, heavy air over the stands and caused much of the neighboring sections to be evacuated. Charleston police removed the offender, and the other members also left in solidarity. However, a few did remain standing behind the goal to see Alvarez propel their beloved Hoops into the semifinals of the Open Cup for the sixth time in the team's 12-year history.
Dallas will face the USL First Division Seattle Sounders, which thumped the Colorado Rapids 5-0 on Tuesday night, on September 4 for a berth in the Open Cup Final. The Hoops have played for the Dewar Trophy twice in the history of the club, topping D.C. United on penalty kicks in 1997 and falling to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 in 2005.
Andrew Mosier is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
