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FC Dallas Nets Three Goals in Eight-Minute Span to Down Rapids, 3-2

August 12, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS) FC Dallas

FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas jumped from eighth to sixth in the Western Conference standings tonight on the strength of a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids at FC Dallas Stadium.

The Colorado Rapids took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute on a goal scored by Jamie Castrillon. Castrillon benefited from the hard work of teammate Brian Mullan, who chased down a pass from Hunter Freeman. The ball looked like it would cross the end line, but Mullan caught the ball just in time to send a pass to the top right corner of the six-yard box. Castrillon beat his marker to the ball and finished just inside the right post guarded by FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

Dallas had a quality chance brushed aside by Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens in the 16th minute. The play began with a long throw-in from the right flank by Hernan Pertuz. Ruben Luna won the initial header, chipping a pass over his head for Brek Shea, who was positioned at the top of the six-yard box. With his back to goal, Shea attempted to lob a shot over Pickens, but the 6-3 goalkeeper jumped backwards and pushed the shot over the crossbar and out for a corner kick.

Hartman stopped two point-blank shot attempts from Omar Cummings in the 34th minute. The first came off a centering pass from Castrillon. Cummings brought down the pass, took a second touch and fired a shot at Hartman from 12 yards out. Standing on the six, Hartman fought off the first shot and recovered in time to kick away a second attempt from Cummings at the near post seconds later.

Hartman kept Dallas in the match long enough for Fabian Castillo to even the score 1-1 in the 41st minute. The play began on the left flank with Jair Benitez and David Ferreira. Ferriera knocked a back pass to Julian de Guzman, who sent a ball back up field for Castillo. The young Colombian accepted the pass, turned and sprinted towards goal before firing a low shot that barely avoided a sprawling Colorado defender and tucked just inside the right post.

Just three minutes later, FC Dallas took a 2-1 lead when Castillo drew a foul 30 yards from goal. Benitez stepped up to take the free kick, launching a left-footed shot that beat Pickens high to the left post. The strike was the first MLS goal for Benitez, who was playing in his 87th league match.

FC Dallas continued to press entering the second half and took a 3-1 lead in the 49th minute. Once again, Castillo was involved. The 20-year-old midfielder made a sharp run into the area and was rewarded with a pass. Castillo slowed his run and cut a pass back to Ferreira, who was alone inside the area. The 2010 MLS MVP took a touch before beating Pickens to the right post to give Dallas a two-goal advantage. The goal was the first goal for Ferreira since April 17, 2011, one match before he suffered a season-ending injury.

Colorado made it a one-goal game in the 55th minute. The Rapids were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal. Martin Rivero took the kick, knocking a simple lateral pass to the center of the field for Jeff Larentowicz. Larentowicz took the pass and hammered a low strike that caught the bottom of the right post before caroming into the back of the net to make the score 3-2.

The Rapids battle became an uphill march in the 71st minute when Castrillon was shown a straight red card after an altercation with FC Dallas defender George John. Colorado was reduced to 10-men for the remaining 19 minutes of the match, but still managed to control large portions of the match.

Hartman finally ended the Rapids hopes in stoppage-time. The MLS veteran punched away a Larentowicz blast from 30 yards out to preserve the 3-2 victory.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 12, 2012


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