On a late surge against a nine-man Columbus Crew side, FC Dallas tallied two goals in extra time to defeat the Columbus Crew 3-1 in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of the Ohio State University on Wednesday night.
After trading first-half goals, FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew, Abe Thompson and Eddie Johnson scored in the second extra session after Frankie Hejduk and Danny Szetela both earned straight reds for fouls on Arturo Alvarez.
While the Crew fielded a full strength side, FC Dallas opted for mostly reserve side. None of their four MLS All-Star participants (Scott Garlick, Greg Vanney, Simo Valakari and Ronnie O'Brien) made the roster. However, All-Star no show Carlos Ruiz did make the starting XI for the visitors. Eddie Johnson entered as a substitute after missing the All-Star match with an injury.
FC Dallas opened up the excitement for evening in the 13th minute when Aaron Pitchkolan lifted a pass over the Crew defense to Roberto Mina. Mina had a step on Chad Marshall, but took too long to shoot and the Crew defender was able to poke the ball away.
Two minutes later, the Crew had a pair of great chances, but could put neither home. A long pass from Chris Wingert to the left wing isolated Cornell Glen. After beating his defender, Glen worked his way into the middle of the pitch. From 10 yards, Glen went for a shot and his attempt was blocked at the last second. On the next possession, Kyle Martino teamed with Glen for another good chance, but Bobby Rhine thwarted the attack.
Despite the Crew's attacking presence for the middle portion of the first half, FC Dallas took the lead on a Carey Talley strike in the 29th minute. Oscar Pareja served the ball into the penalty box. Mina was present at the near post, but decided to let the ball pass into the back post where Talley supplied FC Dallas with the lead.
The Crew searched for an equalizer and were rewarded for one of their best passing displays of the season only seven minutes later. Chris Henderson chased down the ball at the corner flag and served the ball to Knox Cameron at the near post. The rookie forward back heeled the ball to Hejduk, and he wisely pushed the ball to a wide open Martino who easily beat netminder Jeff Cassar with the Crew's only shot on goal during the opening half.
As in the first half, FC Dallas had the first good scoring chance of the stanza. In the 50th minute, Ruiz gathered a ball 30 yards from goal looked for a host after dribbling in only a couple yards. His fiercely struck attempt was just wide of the post.
Then on a quick counterattack, FC Dallas pressed to retake the lead in the 69th minute. Bobby Rhine raced down the pitch and beat Glen with pace. Rhine beat Jonny Walker across the face of the ball, but the ball struck off the face of the post and the Crew were able to clear.
In the 78th minute, Cassar provided an excellent save to keep the match knotted. Martino crossed a ball to Cameron who headed towards the upper corner of the goal frame. To the dismay of Cameron, a leaping Cassar was able to punch the ball clear of danger.
Eight minutes later, Martino again provided a great pass that nearly gave the Crew a late lead. Martino beat a couple of defenders of the dribble and slotted the ball back to Danny Szetela at the top of the penalty box. The second year player hit the ball his left foot and the shot rolled wide of the target.
The match turned when both Szetela and Hejduk were sent off by referee Ricardo Salazar for reckless fouls on Alvarez. Despite being two men down, the Crew were able to keep FC Dallas at bay for the remainder of the first extra session.
Abe Thompson looked to put FC Dallas ahead during the opening moments of the second extra time, but Jonny Walker made a superb kick save to deny Thompson.
But following a loose ball in the penalty area in 113th minute, Thompson would not be again denied by Walker. Thompson one-timed a loose ball into the upper corner to give the visitors the lead.
As the nine-man Crew pushed forward on a corner kick looking to again level the match, Johnson was able to break through with a well-oriented counterattack. When Johnson was getting ready to strike, Jamal Sutton was judged to have taken down the U.S. international for a spot kick, which the Johnson slotted past Walker for the 3-1 final scoreline.
FC Dallas now take on D.C. United in the quarterfinals on Aug. 24. United defeated the Richmond Kickers of the USL First Division 3-1 on Wednesday.
John Kuhn is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round
FC Dallas 3, Columbus Crew 1 (aet)
August 3, 2005 - Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Scoring Summary:
DAL -- Carey Talley (Oscar Pareja) 29
CLB -- Kyle Martino (Frankie Hejduk) 36
DAL -- Abe Thompson (unassisted) 113
DAL -- Eddie Johnson (penalty kick) 116
FC Dallas -- Jeff Cassar, Bobby Rhine, Steve Jolley, Drew Moor, David Wagenfuhr, Aaron Pitchkolan, Oscar Pareja (Eddie Johnson 77), Carey Talley, Roberto Mina (Arturo Alvarez 62), Carlos Ruiz (Abe Thompson 58), Ramon Nunez (Clarence Goodson 88).
Substitutes Not Used: Chris Gbandi, Chris Gomez, Ty Maurin.
TOTAL SHOTS: 26 (Eddie Johnson 4, Carey Talley 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 11 (Eddie Johnson 3); FOULS: 22 (Carey Talley 5); OFFSIDES: 2 (Drew Moor 1, Abe Thompson 1); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Ramon Nunez 5); SAVES: 3 (Jeff Cassar 3)
Columbus Crew -- Jonny Walker, Chad Marshall, Chris Wingert, Robin Fraser, Frankie Hejduk, Simon Elliott (Danny Szetela 74), Eric Vasquez, Chris Henderson (Mario Rodriguez 73), Kyle Martino, Knox Cameron, Cornell Glen (Jamal Sutton 74).
Substitutes Not Used: Bill Gaudette, David Testo, John Wolyniec, Mark Schulte.
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Knox Cameron 3, Kyle Martino 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Kyle Martino 2); FOULS: 14 (Frankie Hejduk 3); OFFSIDES: 7 (Knox Cameron 2, Kyle Martino 2); CORNER KICKS: 9 (Simon Elliott 3); SAVES: 8 (Jonny Walker 8)
Misconduct Summary:
DAL -- Bobby Rhine (caution; Reckless Foul) 20
DAL -- Drew Moor (caution; Reckless Foul) 36
CLB -- Eric Vasquez (caution; Dissent) 41
DAL -- Aaron Pitchkolan (caution; Reckless Foul) 56
DAL -- Carey Talley (caution; Reckless Foul) 89
CLB -- Danny Szetela (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 100
CLB -- Frankie Hejduk (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 103
DAL -- Eddie Johnson (caution; Reckless Foul) 106+
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee's Assistants: -Steven Taylor; Richard Eddy
4th Official: Hilario Grajeda
Attendance: 0
Time of Game: 2:33
Weather: Clear-and-91-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
