FC Dallas looks to bounce back in Colorado
Published 6/23/2007 7:59:45 AM by staff from mlsnet.com
The Colorado Rapids are hoping they can find some postseason magic to put an end to a three-game losing streak when they play host to FC Dallas on Saturday. The Rapids are 0-for-June thus far and haven't defeated FC Dallas in regular season league play since 2004. However, over the last two seasons, the Rapids have eliminated the Hoops in the Western Conference semifinals. FC Dallas leads the league with seven victories on the season, including a 3-1 win against Colorado earlier this season in Frisco. FC DALLAS
FC Dallas suffered its heaviest defeat of the season last Sunday, falling 4-0 to Toronto FC in the back end of yet another two games in four-day stretch. The Hoops still pace the Western Conference with 22 points from 14 matches, leading Chivas USA and Houston Dynamo, and a point ahead of the New York Red Bulls for the most in MLS. COLORADO RAPIDS
The Colorado Rapids saw their losing streak reach three games last Saturday at The Home Depot Center, falling to Chivas USA 2-0 behind a pair of second-half goals. The Rapids sit in fourth place in the Western Conference with 15 points from 12 games, behind both Chivas USA and Houston Dynamo, with first-place FC Dallas seven points ahead. LAST MEETING:
4/22: DAL 3, COL 1 (Nunez 29, 78; Oduro 90 - Kirovski 34)
• FC Dallas made their 2007 Pizza Hut Park debut in fine fashion, rolling to a 3-1 victory against the Rapids on April 22.
• Before a sellout crowd in Frisco, Ramon Nunez -- who earlier in the week had received his green card -- put the Hoops in the lead in the 29th minute with a fine goal. Dax McCarty sprung Nunez with a long pass out of midfield, and after Nunez slipped around a defender at the edge of the area he banged home a low shot past Bouna Coundoul.
• But five minutes later the Rapids pulled level. Terry Cooke launched a long ball from well in his own half, and Jovan Kirovski chased it down with a defender on his back. Despite a hint of a handball, Kirovski brought the ball down and looped a perfect volley over the onrushing Shaka Hislop.
• Yet Nunez gave FCD the lead for good 12 minutes from the end with his second goal on the day. After the Honduras-born midfielder won a free kick outside the left corner of the area, he drilled a low drive past the wall and off Coundoul's hands inside the far post for the go-ahead strike.
• Then in stoppage time, FC Dallas finished off the match. Dominic Oduro set off on a loping run down the left flank and found Kenny Cooper in the area. While the Dallas native stood on the ball, Oduro continued his run behind Cooper into the heart of the area, and banged home Cooper's short pass.
Label: fc dallas soccer, mls, colorado rapids,
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