Colorado Rapids ties FC Dallas
June 20, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release
Dillon Serna struck two minutes from time to preserve a point for Colorado Rapids on Friday night.
The midfielder volleyed home his third goal of the week to level it up late on after Fabian Castillo had opened the scoring for Dallas in the 71st minute.
The visitors' goal had come against the run of play; Rapids had enjoyed the greater chances, possession and territory on the night.
However the tie now leaves them 2-4-9 for the season. Meanwhile they are 1-0-2 against FC Dallas.
TEAM NEWS
Head coach Pablo Mastroeni made changes from the midweek win over CS Swtichbacks. Clint Irwin was back in goal with Jared Watts joining Bobby Burling at center back and Drew Moor deployed at left back. Sam Cronin and Marcelo Sarvas were the holding central midfielders. Offensively it was Serna-Powers-Torres across midfield with Luis Solignac up front.
FIRST HALF
Both these sides had been struggling for points lately so a slow start was no surprise. Castillo drove over for Dallas, Dillon Powers skimmed the net with a free-kick - that was it until the 18th minute.
That's when the two Dillons combined beautifully and Serna ended up driving straight at Dan Kennedy. Soon afterwards the same player slid a shot over the bar after a low cross from Gabriel Torres had found him unmarked at the far post.
Serna seemed to be on the end of Rapids' best chances and Kennedy raced out to deny him towards the end of the first half.
At the whistle, Rapids had the edge but not the lead.
SECOND HALF
Mastroeni made a significant change at the break. Kevin Doyle replaced Torres and went in the 'hole' behind Solignac. As a result, Powers moved to the left and Serna to the right.
The alternations helped Rapids turn the screw even further. Solignac and Doyle both tried their luck from distance as the home side mounted pressure.
On the hour, they had a shout for a penalty when Kellyn Acosta appeared to clip James Riley but the referee waved play on.
Dallas had not mounted much going forward in the second half so their goal was against the run of play. Castillo stepped inside and fired toward the far corner. Irwin could not prevent it finding the net.
In the wake of the goal, Mastroeni immediately brought on Vicente Sanchez. The Uruguayan immediately gave impetus to the Rapids' attack.
However the equalizer only arrived after Irwin had made a sharp stop from a Blas Perez header.
Sanchez fed Moor on the left. His deep cross fell just right for Serna to volley home.
Dallas almost regained the lead immediately but Castillo's shot bounced back off the post and Irwin smothered the rebound.
Rapids pushed on in the final minutes but they could not find a winner.
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