FRISCO, TX (August 12, 2017) – FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids played to a scoreless draw on Saturday night in a match that had an 89 lightning delay. Maximiliano Urruti had a goal called back due to VAR. Dallas stopped the bleeding while Colorado’s playoff hopes continue to fade.
Dallas Starting XI (4-4-2): Jess Gonzalez — Hernan Grana, Atiba Harris, Matt Hedges, Maynor Figueroa — Michael Barrios, Kellyn Acosta, Victor Ulloa, Roland Lamah — Cristian Coleman, Maximiliano Urruti
Colorado Starting XI (4-4-2): Tim Howard — Eric Miller, Jared Watts, Axel Sjoberg, Mike da Fonte — Marlon Hairston, Michael Azira, Mohammed Saeid, Shkelzen Gashi — Dominique Badji, Kevin Doyle
VAR Disallows Urruti Goal in Rain Delayed Draw With Colorado
FC Dallas had the better of the play in the first half. They outpossessed the Rapids by 10% and had several restart opportunities. Urruti and Acosta were the dangermen for the home team. They moved the ball quickly through the middle of the field. Their high press forced turnovers and made it hard for Colorado to get forward and attack.
One of these turnovers led to a great chance for Barrios in the 22nd minute, but Howard made the save. Colorado did get a few chances on the counter attack, with Badji being the center of attention for the Dallas defense. He had a great chance in the 13th minute off a pass from Gashi. Gonzalez made the save on the tough angle.
The headline of the match came in stoppage time of the first half. Urruti buried a shot off a counter attack with no one marking him. The play was reviewed before play resumed. Head Referee Alan Kelly determined that Hernan Grana fouled Badji in the defensive third prior to the goal. The foul and turnover started the attacking phase of play, and was thus reviewable. The play was overturned and the goal was disallowed. The half ended 0-0.
It was all Dallas in the second half. Acosta and Urruti had several good chances but were unable to finish them. Half time substitute Kortne Ford cleared two balls off the line, including a great shot by Barrios in the 61st minute. Howard was active all half as well making several good saves.
At 0-0 in the 82nd minute, lighting struck in the area. The officials suspended play for approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes, per league lighting delay rules.
Dallas picked up where they left off, trying to get a winner. Two minutes back from the delay, Harris had a golden opportunity on a cross near the post but he headed it wide. Urruti forced Howard into making a great save in stoppage time. No one could find the back of the net and the match ended 0-0.
Last Word:
It’s now going to take a miracle (greater than the 2016 Seattle Sounders) for the Colorado Rapids to make the playoffs. Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni said last week that “there are only must win games,” when asked about the difference in road and home form. They are now 10 points below the red line. This was a must win game tonight, and the team just didn’t have it going forward.
For Dallas, this is two points dropped. They outshot Colorado 28-5 and had lots of chances. They just couldn’t finish. It was good for them to stop the bleeding defensively. Still, this is a club looking to gel down the stretch before a playoff push.
