In a battle of the teams with the two best records in Major League Soccer, FC Dallas came out on top thanks to a 96th minute goal from offseason acquisition Maximiliano Urruti. The game went to extra time after the teams traded goals in regulation; one in the first half from Colorado’s Dominique Badji and one the second half from Dallas’ Mauro Diaz.
With the win, FC Dallas advances to the Quarterfinals for the 15th time in club history. Only one club in the 103-year history of the tournament has more appearances in the Quarterfinals (Kutis SC from St. Louis with 17 from 1953-1986.)
The game was a bit lackluster given the league records of both teams and Colorado only brought four outfield substitutes with them to go with a backup goalkeeper. They were also missing midfield stalwart Jermaine Jones, who did not travel upon returning from international duty with the US Men’s National Team at the Copa America. Urruti didn’t even come off the bench for Dallas until the 77th minute.
There were goals to be had right from the start. Dallas got things going in the eighth minute when Diaz played striker Tesho Akindele through into the box, only for Akindele’s shot on goal to be denied by Rapids goalkeeper Zac MacMath.
Not too long afterwards, Colorado homegrown product Dillon Serna was fouled hard by Dallas defender Agustin Jara, who earned a yellow card for the play in question. Colorado fullback Jared Watts had words with Jara and got a little too heated in defense of his teammate and earned a yellow card himself. Serna was forced exit and was replaced by Hairston in the 21st minute, several minutes after the initial foul.
The Rapids had a pair of chances shortly thereafter, including a Marco Pappa free kick that ended up being hit right at Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez. Dallas responded in the 30th minute with a chance of their own as defender Atiba Harris, a former Rapids player, found himself inside the box on the right side with options. Instead, he skied a shot over the crossbar.
Colorado had a couple more half chances before the 38th minute when Hairston got free down the right hand side and played a low cross far post to Badji for the goal. Dallas threatened just once again before halftime when Mauro Diaz had a free kick opportunity, but it failed to find a red shirt in the box.
The second half got off to a rough start Badji was shaken up after a foul right out of the break, but stayed in the game.
Dallas didn’t wait long to bring on super sub Michael Barrios in the 52nd minute and he made his presence felt two minutes later when he played Fabian Castillo into the box, only for MacMath to get to it first.
Pappa and Badji tried to mimic the play at their end of the field, only for Gonzalez to the ball first as well. The second half continued with both teams trading similar half chances until the 64th minute. Fabian Castillo made an excellent play on the counter to keep the ball in play in front of his team’s bench and beat two Colorado defenders at the same time. The Colombian winger streaked in alone and played a crisp centering pass to Diaz for the easy finish. It was the kind of individual effort that has kept Castillo’s name in various transfer rumors as the international transfer window prepares to open this Friday.
Colorado went for the win in the 83rd minute, bringing on Designated Player Kevin Doyle, who got his head on a cross in the box but saw his effort skim wide of the goal. The deadlock remained and the game went to extra time.
Doyle missed near post on another chance in the 93rd minute after extra time got underway and would rue the chance he missed. Three minutes later Urruti got into the box and took his chance near post from what seemed like an impossible angle. The ball seemed to take an awkward deflection off the near post that left MacMath stranded as the ball skipped past him into the net.
Colorado emptied its bench and brought on Conor Doyle at the extra time break, but Dallas kept the pressure up throughout the final 15 minutes and came away with the win.
The loss by Colorado means the Rapids have now gone 13 straight US Open Cups without winning multiple games; a Modern Era record. Dallas will take the trip down I-45 to Houston to battle in-state rivals Houston Dynamo in the Quarterfinals next month.
FULL MATCH REPLAY