April 11, 2009 MLS Toronto FC vs FC Dallas (from MLSnet.com)
FC Dallas net late goal for draw at TFC
Pablo Ricchetti scores in 87th minute to give FCD first point of '09
04/11/2009 06:17 PMBy Peter Mallett / MLSnet.com Staff
TORONTO -- FC Dallas continue the search for their first win but earned their first point of the season thanks to a late goal from defender Pablo Ricchetti to salvage a 1-1 tie with Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon.
FCD failed to cash in on a number of scoring opportunities throughout the match but were finally rewarded in the 88th minute when Ricchetti backheeled a pass from substitute Eric Avila for the equalizer.
The tying goal came after Avila chased down a corner kick that flew over the goalmouth and played the ball across the face of goal, with an unmarked Ricchetti tapping the ball past TFC goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Toronto opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Canadian international midfielder Dwayne De Rosario outjumped Dallas defender Drew Moor and headed the ball past Dallas goalkeeper Ray Burse to open the scoring.
De Rosario's goal came after a long throw-in from former FC Dallas defender Adrian Serioux from the left of the Dallas penalty area.
Toronto came close to adding to its lead in the 34th minute when midfielder Amado Guevara collected a pass from striker Chad Barrett at the top of the Dallas penalty area, but Guevara`s long distance effort struck the crossbar. The rebound came back out into the middle of the penalty area, but Barrett screwed his effort wide of the mark.
Dallas outshot Toronto 11-6 in the first half and had several chances to open the scoring with the dangerous strike duo of David Ferreira and Cooper causing fits for the Toronto defense and Frei.
In the 30th minute Cooper collected a clever flick-on from Ferreira and forced Frei into an acrobatic one-handed save.
Dax McCarty appeared to have finally broken the ice for Dallas in the 44th minute when his well-placed header had Frei beaten but struck the underside of the Toronto goal and then bounced down on the goal line.
Several Dallas players appealed to referee Terry Vaughn to allow the goal but the play continued and Toronto went to the locker room with a 1-0 halftime lead.
The frustration continued for Dallas in the second half with midfielder Andre Rocha shooting wide of an open Toronto goal in the 48th minute after a nice set-up pass from defender George John found him unmarked in the Toronto penalty area.
Dallas midfielder Dave van den Bergh narrowly missed converting on a volley in front of the Toronto goal on a pass from Cooper but his shot was scooped up by Frei.
FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman inserted former Toronto FC striker Jeff Cunningham into the lineup in 73rd minute and Cunningham had an opportunity to tie the game, but his volley bent wide of goal.
That set the stage for Ricchetti's late equalizer and FCD's first point on the year. Dallas started the season at 0-3 after losses to Chicago, Chivas USA and New England.
The two teams will face each other again next Sunday at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco.
Peter Mallett is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
FC Dallas (0-3-1) vs. Toronto FC (1-1-2) April 11, 2009 -- BMO Field Scoring Summary: TOR -- Dwayne De Rosario 1 (Adrian Serioux 1) 17 DAL -- Pablo Ricchetti 1 (Eric Avila 1) 87 FC Dallas -- Ray Burse, Michael Dello-Russo (Jeff Cunningham 74), George John, Drew Moor, Blake Wagner, Andre Rocha (Eric Avila 65), David Ferreira, Dax McCarty, Pablo Ricchetti, Dave van den Bergh, Kenny Cooper (Daniel Torres 91+). Substitutes Not Used: Bruno Guarda, Josh Lambo, Peri Marosevic, Aaron Pitchkolan Toronto FC -- Stefan Frei, Marvell Wynne, Kevin Harmse, Adrian Serioux, Jim Brennan, Amado Guevara, Sam Cronin, Carl Robinson, Fuad Ibrahim (Rohan Ricketts 75), Dwayne De Rosario (Pablo Vitti 89), Chad Barrett (Danny Dichio 69). Substitutes Not Used: Nana Attakora-Gyan, Johann Smith, Greg Sutton, Marco Velez Toronto FC FC Dallas total shots: 10 (Chad Barrett 3) 19 (David Ferreira 4, Andre Rocha 4) shots on goal: 2 (Chad Barrett 1, Dwayne De Rosario 1) 7 (Kenny Cooper 2, Andre Rocha 2) fouls: 12 (Jim Brennan 4) 5 (5 tied with 1) offsides: 4 (Dwayne De Rosario 2) 4 (Kenny Cooper 3) corner kicks: 4 (Amado Guevara 4) 8 (Dax McCarty 7) saves: 6 (Stefan Frei 6) 1 (Ray Burse 1) Misconduct Summary: DAL -- Jeff Cunningham (caution; Reckless Foul) 80 TOR -- Danny Dichio (caution; Reckless Foul) 82 TOR -- Jim Brennan (caution; Reckless Tackle) 89 referee: Terry Vaughn Referee's Assistants: Joe Fletcher; Daniel Belleau 4th official: Steven DePiero time of game: 1:50 attendance: 20,272 weather: Sunny -and- 46 degrees All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
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