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September 13, 2008
LATE GOAL EARNS POINT IN D.C.
Rocha in top form as Dallas ties United 2-2
By Phil Stephens
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Andre Rocha was a constant threat and scored the tying goal for Dallas at D.C United Saturday night.
Photo by Michael Stephens |
WASHINGTON D.C.--FC Dallas couldn’t really afford to be losing points, even points at D.C. United Saturday. But deep into the second half, it looked like the same sad story for the Hoops, who turned a 1-0 lead after a Kenny Cooper first-half goal, into a 2-1 deficit. But this trip had a happier ending when the recently maligned Rocha launched a short-range rocket after getting on the end of a decisive Eric Avila cross from the left flank to pull FCD even in the 80th minute and gain a valuable point on the road in the nation’s capital at RFK stadium.
Dallas fans hope this result is the start of something good as the team heads into the shank of the season still at least three points behind the guaranteed third-place playoff spot in the Western Division. Only six games remain in the regular season and half of them are on the road, including a visit to the Chicago Fire on Sunday, Sept. 21, next up for Dallas.
Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman gambled in the second half, putting on speed with Dominic Oduro for Cooper in the 56th minute and Eric Avila for Dax McCarty on the left side in the 72nd minute. The gamble didn’t look that good when United took a 2-1 lead in the 79th minute on an FCD defensive mistake.
Ivan Guerrero worked down the left channel before cranking a ball right off the end line to an unmarked Santino Quaranta inside the right side of the penalty box. He stuck the ball in that caromed off Dallas goalie Dario Sala and inside the near post. Guerrero’s assisting ball looked over the end line, but drew no flag.
Cooper had been playing a good game, giving Dallas the lead in the ninth minute when he used his body to spin off of Bryan Namoff, taking the ball away at the top of the box, turning around and angling left and then firing a laser to the left side of the net from just inside the 18-yard box.
The Dallas forward then checked off the ball 11 minutes later to make a play work to Jeff Cunningham, who beat Devon McTavish, jumped around him on the right and fired a shot headed for goal that United goalie Luis Crayton managed to stop with his right hand. Cooper led FCD with four shots.
D.C. then gave Dallas fans a familiar sinking feeling by heading in a ball on a nice combination with Thabiso Kuhmalo on the right. The South African player beat Blake Wagner at left back, sending a floater that Jaime Moreno stepped into cleanly between Aaron Pitchkolan in the center and Adrian Serioux at right back, on the left. That equalized the score in the 26th minute.
Cooper stepped into hard shot from 25 yards a minute later that angled wide when United’s Marc Burch stepped into the path.
Saragosa hit a driven ball from 22 yards away in the 35th minute, another shot handled by Crayton.
This game was probably the best by Rocha since Hyndman became head coach June 17. He was a constant threat with his passing, besides his conversion of Avila’s cross into the equalizing score. Cunningham was also a constant thorn with his penetrating runs and quick reactions inside the box.
The Brazilian probably dispelled any negative questions about his status with coach Hyndman after his 90-minute performance tonight.
FC Dallas (6-9-9) vs. D.C. United (10-11-3)
September 13, 2008 -- RFK Stadium
Scoring Summary:
DAL -- Kenny Cooper 14 (unassisted) 9
DC -- Jaime Moreno 10 (Thabiso Khumalo 1) 26
DC -- Santino Quaranta 5 (Ivan Guerrero 3, Jaime Moreno 9) 69
DAL -- Andre Rocha 2 (Eric Avila 2, Jeff Cunningham 1) 79
FC Dallas -- Dario Sala, Adrian Serioux (Michael Dello-Russo 36), Aaron Pitchkolan, Blake Wagner, Dax McCarty (Eric Avila 72), Bruno Guarda, Pablo Ricchetti, Marcelo Saragosa, Andre Rocha, Kenny Cooper (Dominic Oduro 56), Jeff Cunningham,
Substitutes Not Used: Ray Burse, Andrew Daniels, Anthony Wallace, Jamie Watson
D.C. United -- Louis Crayton, Bryan Namoff, Marc Burch, Devon McTavish, Gonzalo Martinez, Quavas Kirk (Fred 46), Santino Quaranta, Clyde Simms, Ivan Guerrero (Rod Dyachenko 72), Thabiso Khumalo (Luciano Emilio 68), Jaime Moreno,
Substitutes Not Used: Ryan Cordeiro, Francis Doe, Craig Thompson, Zach Wells
D.C. United FC Dallas
total shots: 18 (Luciano Emilio 4) 14 (Kenny Cooper 4)
shots on goal: 6 (5 tied with 1) 8 (3 tied with 2)
fouls: 7 (Fred 3) 13 (Andre Rocha 4)
offsides: 2 (Ivan Guerrero 1,
Quavas Kirk 1) 2 (Jeff Cunningham 2)
corner kicks: 13 (Jaime Moreno 8) 0
saves: 6 (Louis Crayton 6) 4 (Dario Sala 4)
Misconduct Summary:
DAL -- Andre Rocha (caution; Reckless Foul) 64
DAL -- Dario Sala (caution; Delaying a Restart) 89
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Referee's Assistants: Steven Taylor; Rob Fereday
4th official: Shane Moody
time of game: 1:53
attendance: 19,890
weather: Cloudy -and- 88 degrees
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