Late Kenny Cooper goal salvages draw
Published 6/7/2009 8:13:49 PM by staff from dallas
Opportunity lost. It was as simple as that. Thanks to a solid win in Chicago last week and a string of three straight home matches, FC Dallas had a chance to salvage their season. Instead all they were able to do was salvage a draw against the worst team in the MLS Sunday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park.
The season is officially lost. Beat the last place team on your home field. That would make a two game winning streak with the next two matches at home. A real chance to get up into the middle of the pack in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, the team did not take their opportunity and just solidified their stance as a bottom pack MLS squad.
FC Dallas looked comfortable from the start and David Ferreira knocked home his first goal of the season in the 29th minute off a cross from Jeff Cunningham giving the home side a deserved lead. The second half saw both teams get a couple of early chances, but finally it was the inexperience of Dallas keeper Ray Burse that would give San Jose hope.
A good free kick from Grapevine product Shea Salinas somehow got past Burse and into the net. The ball was driven straight at Burse and took a slight deflection from the head of Pablo Ricchetti and went right past a startled Burse. It was a ball that keepers of that level should be able to react to. Unfortunately, it ended up tying the match.
With less than ten minutes to play San Jose would jump ahead. Some poor play at the top of the Dallas aread left the ball on the foot of Damien Alvarez who zipped past Kenny Cooper and Saragosa before rifling a high shot at goal. Once again Ray Burse didn't have his hands ready and the ball sailed right over him and into the roof as Burse went down. A good goal from Alvarez's perspective, but my opinion is a professional keeper stands strong there and makes that save most of the time.
Thus FC Dallas found themselves staring at a loss. In the 88th minute Brek Shea played a perfect square ball to Kenny Cooper entering the box. Cooper skipped past San Jose keeper Joe Cannon and slotted into the open net for the tying goal.
Label: FC Dallas 2 San Jose 2, Kenny Cooper, Shea Salinas
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