only for it to squarely hit the right-hand post. Later, Greg Vanney stepped up to a another free kick from nearly the same position, and he took the approach of driving it low through the barrier. It sailed through - but Moreno was perfectly positioned on the line to clear it and preserve the victory.
Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Craig Waibel, Ryan Cochrane, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett - Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis (Stuart Holden 89) - Dwayne De Rosario - Brian Ching (Adrian Serioux 84), Alejandro Moreno. [Substitutes Not Used: Ronald Cerritos, Kevin Goldthwaite, Kelly Gray, Zach Wells, Chris Wondolowski]
Here's Clarke's team (4-1-4-1): Dario Sala - Bobby Rhine, Drew Moor, Greg Vanney, Chris Gbandi (Abe Thompson 84) - Simo Valakari (Carlos Ruiz 64) - Ronnie O'Brien, Richard Mulrooney, Marcelo Saragosa (Arturo Alvarez 83), Ramon Nunez - Kenny Cooper. [Substitutes Not Used: Ray Burse, Clarence Goodson, Aaron Pitchkolan, David Wagenfuhr]
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas put an end to their three-game losing streak, their "oh-fer" for a second successive August, and their long scoreless drought on Wednesday night, defeating the Colorado Rapids 2-0 at Invesco Field at Mile High. The Hoops extended their lead atop the Western Conference to six points, now with 42 points from 24 matches, ahead of Houston Dynamo. They also now trail D.C. United by just five points in the race for the MLS Supporters' Shield.
LAST MATCH
FC Dallas had seen their lead atop the Western Conference diminish while in the throes of a three-game losing streak, while the Rapids were coming off a two-game road trip that had seen them come home with one point.
The visitors took the lead in the 25th minute. Ronnie O'Brien swung in a cross from the right flank and Ramon Nunez rose up to meet at the edge of the goal area, heading it past Joe Cannon. It was the first goal scored by the Hoops in 295 minutes.
Then just before the hour, Richard Mulrooney collected a pass at the top of the restraining arc and hit a low shot that kissed off the inside the post past a helpless Cannon to seal the victory.
FC Dallas head coach Colin Clarke made no changes to the team that lost 1-0 to the Kansas City Wizards the previous Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
Here's Clarke's team (4-4-2): Dario Sala - Bobby Rhine, Drew Moor, Clarence Goodson, Chris Gbandi - Ronnie O'Brien, Richard Mulrooney, Simo Valakari, Ramon Nunez (David Wagenfuhr 71) - Carlos Ruiz (Aaron Pitchkolan 81), Kenny Cooper (Dominic Oduro 71). [Substitutes Not Used: Arturo Alvarez, Shaka Hislop, Abe Thompson, Greg Vanney]
"It's a monkey off our back. We went three games plus the (U.S.) Open Cup without scoring. In Kansas City we started to turn the corner and should have gotten something there," Clarke said. "In the first half I thought the guys were magnificent and they really worked hard in a place that is always tough to play. Colorado has a great home record and I thought we deserved the victory."
TEAM NEWS
For the first time in a while, the Hoops started to show some of the attacking irresistibility they had demonstrated earlier in the season.
"There was more movement and we had more bodies in the box," Clarke said. "It's something we talked about between the Kansas City game and this one: just getting more players in the box out of the midfield, and getting more players further up the field on the attack. Tonight Ronnie (O'Brien) played a great ball in and (Ramon) Nunez came in to the box from the other side. We had that movement and runners from the midfield."
For Nunez, it was his sixth goal of the season, a new career-high for the Dallas native. The last goal FCD had scored in league play was also against the Rapids, in a 4-1 win on July 29 in Frisco.
"We had been saying all week, 'Once we get that first goal a lot more will come' and it was definitely a great relief," Nunez said. "We didn't fall as a team and kept our spirit up throughout the game. (Houston) has been giving us opportunities to move up on the table in the last few weeks and we were able to do that tonight against Colorado."
Clarke again opted to keep veteran Greg Vanney out of the team, again teaming Clarence Goodson and Drew Moor in the center of defense. While the Rapids were kept without a large number of chances, on two occasions they were saved by the woodwork as Thiago Martins hit the posts in each half.
"Martins is always a tough player to play against, and overall the defense did very well together," Clarke said. "[Colorado] is going to get the shots, especially at home, but for the most part ['keeper Dario Sala] had to make only routine saves."
With D.C. United's current slump, the win left FCD just five points behind the Eastern Conference leaders in the race for the MLS Supporters' Shield. With it also goes an automatic place in the 2007 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
"Our goal is to chase and catch D.C. [United]," Clarke said. "We've had a couple chances to make up ground and we haven't done it."
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Houston Dynamo were on the road for the third match in their five-game road swing, and while they remained winless on the trip, they ended a two-game losing run with a 2-2 draw against Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Wednesday night. Dynamo are still in second place in the Western Conference with 36 points from 25 matches, six behind divisional leader FC Dallas, and just two ahead of third-place Chivas USA.
LAST MATCH
The Fire came in riding a five-game winning streak in all competitions (three in league play), while Dynamo were playing the third game of a five-game road trip that saw tough losses in the first two.
Justin Mapp gave the home side the lead after 36 minutes. A defense-splitting ball from C.J. Brown found Mapp near the right corner of the area, and cutting across the top of the box he ripped a low drive inside the near post past Pat Onstad.
But Dynamo pulled level seven minutes later after a remarkable sequence. A Dwayne De Rosario free kick sailed beyond the far post, but Alejandro Moreno chipped it over the retreating Zach Thornton in the Fire goal. The ball bounced to the goal line where it all but crossed -- only for Diego Gutierrez to hook it away. The clearance fell to Moreno, who sent his shot goalward, only for it to be parried by Thornton. But Chris Wondolowski was there to tap home to the simplest of rebound chances.
Then just before the hour, De Rosario struck with another wonder goal. Collecting the ball on the midfield stripe, he looked up to see Thornton off his line -- and sent a high, arcing shot that flew over Thornton, the Fire 'keeper able to only knock it to the back of the net as he backtracked.
Yet Dynamo again saw a late penalty call go against them. A cross was knocked down to Chris Armas rushing on from behind in the area, and Brad Davis hooked him down from behind. Referee Baldomero Toledo pointed to the spot, and Andy Herron calmly rolled the penalty down the heart of the goal as Onstad dove to his right for the equalizer.
Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made one change to the team that lost 3-2 to Chivas USA the Saturday before in Carson. Adrian Serioux made his first start since May 13, coming into central midfield in place of the suspended Ricardo Clark.
Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Kelly Gray, Ryan Cochrane, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett - Chris Wondolowski (Stuart Holden 73), Adrian Serioux, Brad Davis - Dwayne De Rosario - Brian Mullan, Alejandro Moreno. [Substitutes Not Used: Chris Aloisi, Kevin Goldthwaite, Patrick Ianni, Julian Nash, Craig Waibel, Zach Wells]
"The team played well, we attacked them, we broke well on them, we handled the pressure well, and then the ball bounces, contact in the box and you get a penalty kick against us," Kinnear said. "It's just unfortunate. I feel bad for the guys because the work they put in tonight was excellent."
TEAM NEWS
On the first game of the road trip, Dynamo felt the Chris Klein opener in the 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake didn't cross the goal line. Then against Chivas USA, there were the late claims for a penalty that went unheeded that could have provided a late equalizer. Against the Fire, Alejandro Moreno went down in the area, but referee Baldomero Toledo booked him for simulation. Then Brad Davis clattered into Chris Armas from behind to concede the late equalizing spot kick.
"I thought that we were in good position and I think a couple of decisions again went against us tonight. Alejandro [Moreno] goes through and makes a great run and gets clipped and they see it differently and they cautioned him and then a penalty kick the other way," Kinnear said. "Kind of funny how these actions seem to be going downhill for us rather than uphill but it was a funny goal by Dwayne [De Rosario]."
For Chris Wondolowski, it was a first career MLS goal that put Dynamo in the lead in the 43rd minute. His first career professional goal came in Houston's 3-0 victory against FC Dallas in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup.
"It was a good play by Alejandro [Moreno] keeping it in, and then Eddie [Robinson] with the great pass so it's kind of a sitter but I'll take it," he said. "I'm kind of disappointed because we were hoping to get out of here with three points but to come out with a tie on the road, we'll take it."
De Rosario has scored the MLS Goal of the Year the past two years while playing with the San Jose Earthquakes - a fierce full volley on the run against D.C. United in 2004, then a wickedly swerving free kick against the Los Angeles Galaxy last year. His goal against the Fire could be a third successive - reminiscent of Marco Etcheverry's strike from near midfield that won Goal of the Year honors in 1999.
"I saw (Thornton) come out quite a few times, and I thought I might as well try it. I was just waiting for my moment to actually do it. I got about halfway and I said 'Hey, what the heck, let me go for it.' And I went for it and it went in the net."'' De Rosario said.
