Frisco, TX (Sunday, August 12, 2007) - The Columbus Crew Reserves defeated the FC Dallas Reserves by the score of 3-2 in a game played on the adidas Field at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday morning. Andy Herron scored the game-winner and Robbie Rogers added an insurance goal to improve the Crew's record to 3-3-1 (10 pts). The loss brings FCD's record to 2-4-1 (7 pts).
Columbus put themselves on the board first in the 22nd minute with a goal from midfielder Kei Kamara. Ricardo Virtuoso attacked with a quick dribble, drawing the FCD defense with him. Then, Virtuoso slipped a pass over to Kamara, who found himself all alone near the top of the box. Kamara took one touch and finished with a low left-footed shot into the net.
Dallas tied the game up on a Sandi Gbandi goal late in the first half. Forward Ricardinho took the ball up the left flank deep into Columbus territory and made a quick cutback to set up for a right-footed cross. Gbandi met the in-swinging cross with a header inside the penalty area from eight yards out to beat Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenbaum.
Columbus went up for good in the 77th minute when Herron slipped a low, right-footed shot into the back of the net. Second half substitute Rogers sprung Herron through with a pass in behind the Dallas defense. Herron collected inside the box and put the ball past FCD goalkeeper Boris Pardo for the game-winner.
Rogers added a third Columbus goal just minutes later off a feed from Ricardo Virtuoso. Virtuoso brought the ball up the left side of the field in the 80th minute and found Rogers wide open in the middle of the penalty area, who calmly tucked the ball away from ten yards out.
FCD struck back in the 84th minute on a goal from defender Bobby Rhine from near midfield. Chase Wileman received the ball on the left wing just inside his own half, and passed to Rhine in the center of the pitch. Knowing Gruenbaum was off his line, Rhine sailed a shot from 55 yards out over the head of the Columbus goalkeeper.
Dallas nearly evened the score in the 89th minute, but came up short when Gbandi missed wide right on a shot from the top of the box.
The FCD Reserves will next take on the Houston Dynamo Reserves on Sunday, August 19, at Robertson Stadium. The Columbus Crew Reserves do not play again until September 2, when they Colorado at home.
FC Dallas Reserves (2-4-1): GK- Boris Pardo, D- Bobby Rhine, D- Michael Dello-Russo (Aaron Pitchkolan, 46), D- Andrew Daniels, D- Blake Wagner, M- Chase Wileman, M- Sandy Gbandi, M- David Wagenfuhr, M- Scott Jones, F- Abe Thompson (Dominic Oduro, 46), F- Ricardinho (Marquis Muse, 66)
Substitutes not used: Matt Wideman (GK), Ever Alvarado (g)
Columbus Crew Reserves (3-3-1): GK- Andy Gruenbaum, D- Andrew Peterson (Ryan Junge, 27), D- Rusty Pierce, D- Ezra Hendrickson, D- Timmy Ward, M- Duncan Oughton, M- Brad Evans (Jed Zayner, 7), M- Kei Kamara (Eddie Gaven, 60), M- Ricardo Virtuoso, F- Andy Herron (Damian Blackburn, 79), F- Jason Garey (Robbie Rogers, 62)
Substitutes not used: Billy Gaudette (GK), Danny Dragoi
Scoring Summary:
CLB - Kei Kamara (Ricardo Virtuoso), 22
FCD - Sandi Gbandi (Ricardinho), 42
CLB - Andy Herron (Robbie Rogers), 77
CLB - Robbie Rogers (Ricardo Virtuoso), 80
FCD - Bobby Rhine (Chase Wileman), 84
Misconduct:
FCD - Bobby Rhine (Caution), 15
CLB - Jed Zayner (Caution), 26
CLB - Rusty Pierce (Caution), 60
CLB - Ezra Hendrickson (Caution), 81
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
