FC Dallas drops home opener to Chicago
Published 3/21/2009 8:20:27 PM by staff from dallas
FC Dallas got an amazing 60 yard goal from Kenny Cooper to open the scoring, but couldnt ride the momentum as they fell 3-1 to the Chicago Fire in the 2009 MLS season opener. Cooper opened the scoring early on as he picked up a ball in the center circle and fired a long shot form 60 yards that caught Chicago keeper Jon Busch off his line. Busch scrambled back but could not keep the ball out of the net. Both teams had chances as it was a wide open game all night long. Finally in the 37th minute Chicago tied the game. A long ball forced Dallas centerback Steve Purdy into backpedaling and falling down. The loose ball found Patrick Nyarko who slid the ball left to Justin Mapp who collected the ball and fired it into the lower right corner of the net. It was really a nothing ball that ended up in the FC Dallas net. Purdy, who fell several times on the night, made a mess of it and then the right back was nowhere to be found as Mapp scored. Defense looks to once again be an issue with FC Dallas. Purdy has definite footwork issues and several times the outside backs did not pinch in and give support when needed over the course of the game. The second half opened with Dallas on the attack, but once again it was Chicago getting rewarded against the run of play. An unlucky bounce found Drew Moor's right hand and the ref awarded a 51st minute penalty kick which veteran Brian McBride finished well. Chicago had their lead, but FC Dallas would attack in numbers the rest of the match. Drew Moor was denied by the right post on a header from a corner and Jeff Cunningham pounded another header off the crossbar as Dallas pushed for the tying goal. Unfortunately, it was not to be. A late foul in injury time allowed Blanco to work his magic as he curled a wonderful freekick into the top right of the net for the final 3-1 margin.
Label: FC Dallas, Kenny Cooper, Justin Mapp
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