MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas settle for draw with Rapids

Published on June 25, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - In less than a month, FC Dallas has gone from looking like also-rans in the Western Conference to performing like a club eager to show the first two-plus months of the season was a fluke. FC Dallas nearly recorded its second victory in five days, instead settling for a 1-1 draw against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park when the club was merely minutes away from victory.

FC Dallas goalkeeper Ray Burse was brilliant early and the offensive tandem of Kenny Cooper and David Ferreira provided the road side with its lone goal in the 37th minute. The draw improved FC Dallas to 2-1-4 in its past seven matches and moved the club one point behind the sixth-place Los Angeles Galaxy in the Western Conference standings.

After beginning the season 0-4-1 on the road, FC Dallas also has now earned a win and a draw in its past two road matches and will enjoy a short respite before resuming its schedule with a July 4 home match against New York.

Until the waning moments, Burse and the FC Dallas defense effectively shackled Rapids forward Omar Cummings, who accounted for two goals and an assist during the Rapids' win on Saturday against D.C. United, and the club was able to get its offense on track after the home side dominated possession for roughly the first 25 minutes of the match.

Burse allowed FC Dallas to take control late in the first half thanks to a series of saves that kept an early-energized Rapids squad off the scoreboard. Burse finished the first half with three saves, including a pair on similar line-drive attempts by Rapids midfielder Nick LaBrocca during the first 20 minutes.

Burse's steady back line paid off later in the frame, once the patient FC Dallas attack finally found creases in the Colorado defense. The scoring tally actually was started by FC Dallas midfielder Jeff Cunningham, a former Rapids player who moved the ball through the right side before tapping a pass to Cooper stationed at the top of the box.

Cooper, with his back to the Rapids defense, promptly re-directed the ball back to the right side, where Ferreira was wide open. The Brazilian national calmly chipped a shot over charging Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens for his second goal of the season and sending FC Dallas into the break with a surge of momentum.

FC Dallas withstood several Rapids assaults in the early moments of the second half, but the speedy Cummings finally found a seam in the Dallas defense in the 84th minute, slicing through a pair of defenders to run onto a Mehdi Ballouchy through ball and deliver the match-tying goal.

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