Late Strike from Kenny Cooper Hands FC Dallas 3-2 Win over Houston Dynamo
March 17, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - FC Dallas News Release
FRISCO, Texas (Sunday, March 17) - FC Dallas reclaimed the annual Texas Derby from rival Houston Dynamo, 3-2, with a 90th minute strike from Kenny Cooper in front of 15,623 fans at FC Dallas Stadium Sunday.
After the host Dallas side claimed an early 2-0 lead, Houston evened the match with two second-half goals for what appeared to be headed for a draw. However, Michel delivered a dangerous ball into the box in the final seconds of regulation and Cooper pounced on the opportunity to score his first goal for the red and white since returning home to Dallas this season.
FC Dallas and the Dynamo batted through 15 minutes of physical soccer before either team created any solid scoring opportunities. Dallas' right back Zach Loyd was the first player to get a good look at goal in the 17th minute, when a cross played in from the left flank by Jackson fell to the feet of the late-arriving defender. Loyd used his first touch to avoid a pair of Dynamo defenders at the top of the area but his left-footed shot swung well wide of the goal.
Houston counter-punched in the 21st minute when Giles Barnes beat Dallas' offsides trap and was in alone against Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez. The Peruvian remained glued to his right post as Barnes entered the top of the box, forcing the striker to take a shot from a tough angle. Barnes attempted to beat Fernandez from 12 yards out but the goalkeeper got both hands to the shot and was able to hold on for the save.
FC Dallas then exploded for two goals in less than two minutes. The first came off a set piece in the 34th minute. From 40 yards out, Michel sent a left-footed line drive to the top of the six-yard box. Defender George John came free of his marker and chipped a shot past Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall to give Dallas a 1-0 lead.
Following the kickoff, Dallas quickly won back possession of the ball and earned a corner kick in the 35th minute. From the corner flag, David Ferreira bent a cross into the center of the six-yard box where Andrew Jacobson was able to volley a shot high to the near post, giving the home side a 2-0 advantage.
Houston pulled within a goal when substitute Andrew Driver cracked a shot off the crossbar and into the net in the 79th minute. Driver was assisted on the play by Kofi Sarkodie, who tracked down a ball that was played over the top of FC Dallas' backline. Sarkodie won the ball back on the end line, well inside Dallas' penalty area. He crossed the ball to the top of the box for Driver, who had plenty of time to pick out the crossbar behind FC Dallas' Fernandez.
Just four minutes later, the Dynamo evened the score, 2-2 when Cam Weaver got in behind the FC Dallas backline via a through ball from Brian Ching. From the right flank, Weaver attempted to pick out Driver but FC Dallas' Fernandez managed to get a hand to the pass. Unfortunately for Dallas, the rebound was knocked into the path of late-arriving midfielder Brad Davis, who finished high to the back post in the 83rd minute.
Cooper closed off the win for Dallas in the 90th minute, after he brought down a well-placed ball from Michel and sent a left-footed shot cleanly past Tally Hall to the bottom right corner.
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