FC Dallas loses late lead in draw at Kansas City
Published 8/23/2008 8:23:23 PM by staff from dallas
It's been a recurring theme this year with FC Dallas.....another lead lost in the waning minutes. Jimmy Conrad's goal two minutes into stoppage time gave the Kansas City Wizards a last gasp 1-1 draw against 10 man FC Dallas on Saturday evening at Community America Ballpark. FC Dallas took an early lead on Andre Rocha's goal, then nearly held out for the remainder of the game, even playing a man down for the final 27 minutes after Pablo Ricchetti was shown a second yellow card. FC Dallas took the lead after just seven minutes. Rocha received a 25 yard cross from midfielder Dax McCarty, then beat Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman with a stunning longrange blast from all of 30 yards away. Rocha's shot sailed high then dipped and knuckled before sailing into the goal just under the crossbar for his first goal in MLS. The Wizards narrowly dodged going down 2-0, as FC Dallas combined a long run down the sideline with a cross, for a shot by forward Jeff Cunningham that was smothered by Hartman. In the 22nd minute, the Wizards nearly hit for the equalizer. From a free kick just outside the right corner of the area, the ball was played square. Wizards defender Jack Jewsbury raced in and hammered a first-time shot from 20 yards that FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala deflected wide. After the early goal, FC Dallas seemed to sit back, soaking up any pressure on the tight confines at CommunityAmerica Ballpark and taking advantage of their overall team speed to create opportunities. The Wizards consistently had chances; they simply weren't finishing the opportunities they created. For the night, they outshot FC Dallas 21-9, but both teams each put six shots on target. But the Wizards didn't have a shot on target after the opening half-hour until the final minute of the game. The game took a big turn in the 62nd minute when Ricchetti was sent off after a tackle on Davy Arnaud. Ricchetti earlier was issued a yellow card for a deliberate handball in the 46th minute. After a flurry of Wizards shots, Claudio Lopez found himself with the ball and an open shot from about 18 yards out in the 70th minute. But while his shot on the run beat Sala in the FC goal, it was wide of the near post. It was the most dangerous offensive attack for the Wizards to that point in the half. In the final minute of regulation, Arnaud forced another save out of Sala, and the Wizards kept the pressure on with a flurry of corner kicks. Then, deep into time added on, Carlos Marinelli flicked the ball to Jack Jewsbury right at the edge of the area. As he was getting knocked to the ground, Jewsbury slid it forward to Josh Wolff in the right side of the area. Wolff sent a low ball into the goalmouth where Conrad came sliding in, and ahead of two Dallas defenders he side-footed the ball over Sala into the net for the stunning equalizer.
Label: FC Dallas Kansas City, Jimmy Conrad, Andre Rocha
|