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June 13, 2009
TATU SCORES LATE EQUALIZER
Tribute teams end up tied 2-2
By Phil Stephens
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Tatu was up to his old tricks, scoring a late goal to pull out a tie for his team. Celebrating are Tatu, from left, Chris Ring and Bobby Rhine, right.
Photo by Michael Stephens |
FRISCO, TX--- Old men playing soccer it was, but also a whole lot more. In the first Dallas Tribute Match, the teams tied 2-2 and featured a slam-bang finish that saw Tatu score the equalizing goal for his White teammates in stoppage time. Despite the heat, Tatu did not throw his jersey to anyone.
It was mostly fun, but the mixture of men from three different eras of Dallas soccer history put on a good, entertaining game of soccer, mercifully shortened to two 25-minute halves in the mid-June heat. Players from the Dallas Tornado, Dallas Sidekicks and Dallas Burn/FC Dallas were involved.
The Red team opened the scoring in the 24th minute on a penalty kick by former Dallas Burn player Chad Deering. Both teams produced opportunities but goalkeeping was solid from Paul Hason for the White and Shawn Ray for the Reds.
Opportunities opened as the heat wore the teams down. Terry Woodberry (former Sidekick player) converted a pass from his left flank and put his team up 2-0 in the 46th minute.
With Bobby Rhine leading a late charge, the White team rallied. Rhine just retired from FC Dallas this season and had plenty of pep in his step. He had already generated a lot of White offensive forays, but found Dev Reeves coming down the middle. Reeves leaned in and headed the ball in the net to pull the White team within one in the 48th minute.
The game went to stoppage time and the ref let it flow a little longer, just enough time for Tatu to collect a rebound from a shot by Bruno Ferretti (former Sidekick) that bounced off the right post. The ball caromed left and Tatu stepped into it for the tying goal.
The whistle sounded soon afterward and the soccer players gathered for a large group shot and plenty of hugs, handshakes and good-natured jibes.
All-in-all, a short but entertaining match and a nice tribute to Dallas’ professional soccer pioneers
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