Three times this season, FC Dallas had seen their opponents score dramatic late goals to secure a late draw. On Friday at Pizza Hut Park, it was FCD's turn, as Abe Thompson scored in stoppage time to give the Hoops a 1-1 draw with the Kansas City Wizards.
Scott Sealy had put the Wizards ahead in the 39th minute, the first goal scored by a Wizards player in more than six hours of play. But Thompson headed home a cross from Eric Avila to give Schellas Hyndman his second tie in three league games since taking charge, the first goal allowed by the Wizards in 292 minutes of play.
Kansas City head coach Curt Onalfo went with the same starting 11 that defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0 last Saturday at the CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Hyndman opened in a 3-5-2 formation instead of the 4-4-2 that he began with in a 1-1 draw at Houston last Thursday.
The Hoops' evening started off on a high note. Striker Dominic Oduro made a nice run in the eighth minute from the right sideline. After breaking free from a Kansas City defender, the speedy Ghanaian dribbled up along the endline and attempted a cross in front of the goal that could have been construed as a shot. Either way, Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman got a hand on it and ended the chance.
Cooper missed a great opportunity in the 12th minute at close range but was unable to convert when Hartman came up with another save. Blake Wagner was in the area and might have been able to do something with the rebound but Hartman was quicker to the ball and smothered it with his body.
The Hoops had a couple of corners in the 25th minute, and FCD's Marcelo Saragosa got onto the end of the second, but shot it to the left of Hartman.
Juan Toja took a chance from long range in the 27th minute, but Hartman perfectly played the Colombian midfielder's bid for his first goal since March 30 and was there to make the save.
Heading into the game, a Wizards player had not scored in 410 minutes. That number reached 448 minutes before Sealy put the visitors ahead.
From the right flank, Davy Arnaud sent a good centering pass to Lopez racing toward the FCD penalty area. Lopez found Sealy with a first-time flick just inside the FCD box, and on the turn Sealy slotted it just inside the left post past a diving Dario Sala for his second goal of the 2008 season.
In the opening 45 minutes, FCD had seven shots to Kansas City's six. Each team had three attempts on frame.
Hyndman wasted no time in going to his bench, making two changes to start the second half. He brought on Thompson, who had two goals in the Open Cup win on Tuesday, for Oduro, and also brought on rookie Eric Avila for Andre Rocha.
Cooper nearly drew the match level for the Hoops in the 51st. The Dallas native hit a low blast from about 30 yards out but it missed the goal by mere inches, going just to the left of a diving Hartman.
Two minutes later, FCD had another great chance. Avila fed Wagner, who hit a great cross from the left flank toward the far post, where Cooper was waiting. The FCD attacker got a shot off but it deflected off Kansas City's Michael Harrington and hit the post.
In the 57th minute, Toja had a chance at close range that was saved by Hartman. The rebound popped out into the middle of the Wizards box but before FCD could convert, the flag went up for offside.
Onalfo went to his bench in the 59th, taking off Sealy for Ryan Pore and substituting Roger Espinoza in for Ivan Trujillo. Lopez moved up top alongside Pore for the visitors.
In the 63rd minute, Arnaud nearly put the game away. After blazing into the FCD box virtually untouched, he had a nice look at goal, but unfortunately for the visitors, his shot went just to the left of the frame.
FCD dodged another bullet in the 70th after another great free kick from Lopez. He spotted Victorine open at the far post and the Wizards midfielder sent a header that looked destined for the back of the net until Hoops center back Duilio Davino saved the day with a well-executed clearance in front of his own goal.
Dallas looked to have drawn level in the 77th minute with an apparent goal by Cooper. A Toja shot was originally saved by Hartman and put Cooper put the ensuing rebound into the net, but once again the linesman's flag went up for offside.
Finally, as the regulation 90 minutes concluded, Avila sent in a great cross from the left flank, over the Wizards back line. Thompson hit it perfectly with his head into the right side of the net to provide the equalizer.
Kansas City, which now has just one win in their last nine games, returns home Thursday to take on the New York Red Bulls. FCD, on the other hand, doesn't return to league action until July 19, when they play host to Colorado in Frisco. On Tuesday, the Hoops will face the Charleston Battery of the United Soccer Leagues First Division in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal, match also in Frisco.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
