Hoops, Rapids settle on tie

FRISCO, Texas -- FC Dallas came back from a goal down and took the lead in the second half, but the Colorado Rapids immediately pulled level once again as the two teams played to a seesaw 2-2 tie Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park.

The Rapids took an early lead in the fifth minute thanks to Herculez Gomez before FCD answered in the 49th off a Kenny Cooper corner kick. The Hoops drew ahead in the 64th when Juan Toja scored but that edge lasted just three minutes before Conor Casey made it 2-2 in the 67th minute with his third goal of the year.

FC Dallas was returning to action after two weeks away from a league match, but Gomez put the Rapids into an early lead with his second goal of the season. Near the top of the arc, FCD left back Adrian Serioux misplayed a long ball from Mehdi Ballouchy. Gomez was able to capitalize on the miscue and beat Hoops goalkeeper Dario Sala far post from about 16 yards out on the right.

His score was the earliest that the Rapids have found the back of the net all year. It was also the first time this season that Colorado has scored in the first half on the road.

Despite the early goal, FCD was the more active side for much of the first half. In the seventh, Cooper hit a bomb from long range that was saved by Colorado 'keeper Bouna Coundoul. The rebound squirted free, but Toja was a step slow in getting to the ball and his shot landed harmlessly in Coundoul's hands.

Toward the end of the opening half, the Hoops had several more chances to draw the match level. The first came in the 39th when Coundoul saved a shot from Cooper. One minute later, he stopped another effort by Cooper from about 25 yards out. The rebound did pop free but the Rapids 'keeper scurried over to retrieve the ball at the right post just before it went over the endline.

And just seconds before the half, FCD's Andre Rocha made a great move to get around Colin Clark just inside the 18-yard box and hit a shot that nailed Coundoul in the breadbasket. The rebound landed right in front of the Colorado goal but Dominic Oduro's rebound shot went high.

FCD had nine shots in the opening half, including five by Cooper and two by Toja. Colorado had seven, including four from Herculez Gomez. Of FCD's nine shots, five were on frame compared to just two by the visitors.

After the halftime break, the equalizer by FCD was set up after Coundoul came outside the box to make a play on a ball contested by Cooper. The FCD forward was first to it and lobbed the ball into the heart of the Rapids' box, where Oduro was elbowed and sent flying by Colorado defender Facundo Erpen.

Referee Terry Vaughn wasted no time in pointing to the spot. Cooper then stepped up and after a quick stutter step, punched the ball into the right side of the net to tie the score at 1-1. It was FCD's first goal off a penalty kick of the year.

Another Coundoul miscue was a key factor in FCD's second goal. After a long cross from Marcelo Saragosa came in from the right flank, Coundoul came off his line to contest the ball against Cooper. But the Hoops striker headed the ball back into the goalmouth, landing at Toja's feet.

With an empty net, Toja, named an MLS all-star earlier in the week, then booted a shot into the back of the net. It was his second goal of the year and first tally in league play since FCD's season opener against Chivas USA on March 30.

However, FCD's edge proved to be a fleeting one. Just three minutes after Toja's score ignited the partisan crowd, the Rapids quickly silenced them. Terry Cooke started the sequence with a nice ball to Christian Gomez, who was dashing up the right side. Gomez then spotted Casey open at the far post and found him with a well-placed cross that he headed into the net to make it 2-2. It was the visitors' first shot of the second half.

In the 71st, Saragosa was shown yellow for FCD, giving him five on the season. That means that the Hoops midfielder will miss the Hoops' next game, which will be on Sunday, July 27 against the L.A. Galaxy.

The Hoops had two great chances over the final minutes to give Schellas Hyndman his first league win as head coach. In the 86th minute, Rocha took a corner from the flag on the near side of the field. The ball eventually landed at Toja's feet and he launched a rocket toward Coundoul, who had to make a great, diving play on the ball to deflect it over the crossbar.

One minute later, Toja hit another great effort toward the Colorado goal, but once again, Coundoul was up to the challenge. The ball did pop free and Oduro apparently punched it in for the go-ahead goal, but he was whistled offside as the linesman's flag went up.