Crew have undefeated streak snapped

Columbus allows two goals in final 10 minutes of match to squander points

Robbie Rogers and Columbus were unable to stop FC Dallas in the final 10 minutes. (R. Yeatts/Getty)

After a first half own goal by Pablo Ricchetti put the home side down 1-0, FCD's Eric Avila drew the game level in the 80th minute and a Kenny Cooper penalty kick in the 87th was the deciding blow. The loss ended the Crew's undefeated streak at nine games, the first loss for the reigning MLS champions since April 5.

For much of the opening half, the game belonged to the visitors. Columbus pressed forward often, testing FCD goalkeeper Ray Burse on several occasions. In the 15th minute, FCD midfielder Marcelo Saragosa made a lazy pass in his own third, a mistake that the Crew's Alejandro Moreno nearly made him pay for. However, his long distance strike was corralled by Burse.

The Crew got what proved to be their lone goal of the evening in the 17th after a corner by Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The talented Argentinean's strike found Eric Brunner, who got his head on the ball. Brunner's shot glanced off the right shoulder of Ricchetti and into the back of the net. It was the second own goal charged to the FCD captain this year.

Burse came up big in the 29th, when Emmanuel Ekpo struck one toward goal. The FCD 'keeper showed his athleticism to send Ekpo's effort high over goal. On the ensuing corner, the Crew nearly added to their lead when Chad Marshall was left unmarked and hit a full volley, only to be denied by Burse.

One player especially active on the offensive end in the first half was left back Anthony Wallace. The U.S. under-20 international took a shot from long range in the 12th minute that went just left of the Crew goal, and just after halftime had a similar effort.

Each coach made one change to their first 11 from last week. Columbus manager Robert Warzycha started Marshall, who missed last week's game on suspension due to a red card, in place of Jed Zayner.

FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman's lone alteration to his starting lineup was bringing in Saragosa for Jeff Cunningham. The veteran scorer did come on as a substitute, entering in the 65th minute for Dave van den Bergh.

Some four minutes before the break, Saragosa was injured following a hard tackle by the Crew's Gino Padula, an infraction for which he was issued a yellow card. Saragosa did not return to begin the second half and was replaced by Brek Shea.

The home team clearly had the run of play in the second half, a good run of form that culminated in Avila's goal in the 80th.

David Ferreira started the play off by feeding Avila, who bent his shot beautifully, sending it into the right side of the net for the equalizer. Looking to energize his attack, Hyndman had brought the offensive-minded Avila on for Wallace in the 76th minute. It was the first tally of his short MLS career.

Ferreira figured in the second goal as well. In the 86th, the Colombian playmaker was dribbling towards the Crew goal when Marshall took him down from behind, drawing a yellow and a penalty kick call from referee Terry Vaughn.

Cooper stepped up to the spot, and after a couple of quick stutter steps, buried it into the left side of the net for his seventh goal of the year, giving FCD a 2-1 edge.

Even through the four minutes of added time, FCD kept pressing. Four minutes in, Cunningham hit a great blast that Columbus 'keeper Andy Gruenebaum was forced to make a play on. His save bounced off another Crew player before going over the endline.

The win was just FCD's third of the season and now raises their home record to 2-3-3. The club's last win at Pizza Hut Park was more than two months ago when FCD beat Toronto FC 3-2. The victory also ended a two-game losing streak against the Crew, who last lost to FCD on Oct. 6, 2007 at Crew Stadium.

Columbus returns home to face the New York Red Bulls next Saturday night at home while FCD returns to the field a bit sooner, facing Colorado at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Wednesday night.

Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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