By LEOPOLDO PONCE
In a chippy game that came to an end with two FC Dallas goal-line clearances, FC Dallas managed a 1-1 draw on the road against the Colorado Rapids.
FC Dallas started the match like a team intent on avenging an ugly loss to Colorado two weeks ago, as Fabian Castillo helped set up a Mauro Diaz goal with a jaw-dropping and ankle-breaking dribble through the Rapids defense.
The tide turned for the Rapids in the second half, when Blas Perez was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Drew Moor. Perez appeared to strike Moor, which drew an immediate straight red card.
FC Dallas started the game with an early cross into the area at the first minute, but the next quarter hour was dominated by the Colorado Rapids. Even though FC Dallas was conceding possession, the first real scoring opportunity came from them.
This opportunity came when Perez received a dangerous through ball in the 5th minute of play. He got rid of the two Colorado defenders behind him, and went one-on-one with Clint Irwin who manages to make a superb save.
After that play it was all Rapids. Eventually, their possession led to a scoring opportunity in the 15th minute from around 30 yards out when Labrocca took a shot that Dan Kennedy gets a hand on for the save. For the next few minutes FC Dallas depended on fouls to slow down the Rapids offense.
It wasn’t until the 22nd minute that another scoring opportunity came from either team, and that came off of a Rapids corner kick that Kennedy ends up reaching for but dropping into the box. A Rapids player manages to get a foot on it but Matt Hedges manages to clear it on the line.
That play seemed to awaken FC Dallas, because soon after that the game became more level and at times it started to look like Dallas had become the better side. This control eventually led to the game’s first goal in the 31st minute of the game.
It occurred when Fabian Castillo got into the box, went through Harrington and Sjoberg, cutting left and right, and then making a pass to Mauro Diaz who shot it for the goal. The goal was all Castillo who showed everybody why he’s one of the more technically gifted players in Major League Soccer.
At the start of the second half, Colorado tried getting on the scoreboard early as Powers took a shot from outside the area that ended up going right of the goal. The next few minutes became a battle of the midfield as neither team was really capable of getting into the attacking third with any real danger.
The game started getting chippy as both sides started committing fouls. These fouls eventually led to a dangerous free kick for Colorado that had a few bounces in the area that amounted to nothing.
However, an off the ball foul on Drew Moor by Blas Perez ended up in him earning a red card in the 61st minute of the game. Just minutes later, FC Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta was booked for a dangerous studs-up tackle on Ramirez.
Complete Rapids dominance followed as they took advantage of an FC Dallas playing a man down. However the Dallas defense stayed tight and prevented any shots from reaching the goal.
This all changed when in the 79th minute, when LaBrocca converted a header pass from Dillon Powers for the equalizer. The Rapids pushed hard for a winner, generating some dangerous chances late, but two goal-line clearances by FC Dallas closed out the game.
FC Dallas stays on the road as they travel to Houston to face the Dynamo in the Texas Derby for the next match day. The Colorado Rapids next game is on the road against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday.