2007 Semifinals

2007 Semifinals: FC Dallas headed to Final after OT battle with Seattle

September 4, 2007 by

For the second time in three years, FC Dallas will return to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final after a 2-1 overtime win against the USL First Division’s Seattle Sounders. In front of over 10,000 fans at Qwest Field in Seattle, the second-biggest crowd in modern Sounders history, the two teams battled to a scoreless draw at the end of regulation. The best scoring chance of the evening came in the second half when Seattle defender Taylor Graham nodded a corner kick delivery toward goal, and had it rattle off the crossbar.

In extra time, Carlos Ruiz broke the deadlock with a goal less than two minutes int on an assist by Arturo Alvarez. Both teams continued to push for another goal, but failed to produce until the 119th minute when Dallas forward Abe Thompson was brought down in the penalty area by Zach Scott. After Seattle’s Noah Merl was shown a red card for something that happened away from the play, Thompson converted the penalty kick to give the visitors a two-goal cushion heading into the final minutes.

The Sounders were able to pull one back during stoppage time, on a goal by Leighton O’Brien, but the clock would eventually run out on them.

FC Dallas will host the New England Revolution in the Open Cup Final at Pizza Hut Park on October 3 at 8 p.m. EST.

Scoring Summary:
DAL – Carlos Ruiz (Arturo Alvarez) 91
DAL – Abe Thompson (penalty kick) 119
SEA – Leighton O’Brien (Andre Schmid) 120+

FC Dallas: Dario Sala, David Wagenfuhr, Alex Yi (Aaron Pitchkolan 56), Clarence Goodson (Adrian Serioux 46), Drew Moor, Denilson (Dax McCarty 94), Juan Toja, Pablo Ricchetti, Arturo Alvarez, Carlos Ruiz (Bobby Rhine 109), Abe Thompson.

Subs not used: Ray Burse (GK), Chris Gbandi, Anthony Wallace.

Seattle Sounders: Chris Eylander, Kevin Sakuda, Danny Jackson (Craig Tomlinson 106), Taylor Graham, Zach Scott, Kenji Treschuk (Greg Howed 100), Leighton O’Brien, Josh Gardner (Noah Merl 78), Hugo Alcaraz, Sebastian LeToux, Roger Levesque (Andre Schmid 100).

Subs not used: Ben Dragavon (GK), Jake Besagno, Santa Maria Rivera.

Disciplinary Summary:
DAL – Pablo Ricchetti (Caution) 88
DAL – Carlos Ruiz (Caution) 113
SEA – Noah Merl (Ejection)

Referee: Abiodun Okulaja
Assistant Referees: Will Niccolls, Mike Rottersman
Fourth Official: Cory Dean
Attendance: 10,385

2007 Semifinals: Noonan’s OT goal puts 10-man Revolution past 9-man RailHawks

September 4, 2007 by

: Former teammates Connally Edozien of Carolina and New England’s Shalrie Joseph were sent off after this near-fight late in the first half. 8 yellows and 3 reds were shown that night. Photo: Tony Biscaia | RevsNet.com

Pat Noonan’s goal in the fourth minute of extra time was enough to earn the New England Revolution their second trip to the US Open Cup final with a 2-1 win over the Carolina RailHawks. The visitors struck first in the 6th minute when Anthony Maher scored on a pass from Johnny Steele. New England would equalize in first-half stoppage time, as Jeff Larentowicz tallied on a diving header on an assist from Noonan.

Prior to the Revs equalizer, Carolina’s Connolly Edozien and New England’s Shalrie Joseph were both sent off when a fight nearly broke out between the two teams. Reckless and unpunished fouls on both sides peaked after a foul committed by Avery John on Carolina’s Johnny Steele, led to some pushing and shoving that escalated and saw the two former teammates ejected in the 42nd minute.

The game was marred with eight yellow cards and after Carolina defender David Stokes was sent off in the 80th minute, that brought the red card total to three.

Noonan would prove to be the hero for New England, scoring the game-winner four minutes into extra time on an assist from rookie Adam Cristman.

Despite playing a man down for the last ten minutes of regulation and through all 30 minutes of extra time, the RailHawks continued to hang on and nearly equalized on a frantic corner kick play in the dying seconds of the match. Chad Dombrowski’s header on goal forced Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis to dive to his left to make the save, and to send New England to the championship game for the first time since they lost the 2001 title game to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Revolution will aim for their first trophy in team history when they face FC Dallas in the Open Cup Final. The match will be played October 3rd at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX.

SCORING SUMMARY
CAR – Anthony Maher (Jonny Steele) 6
NE – Jeff Larentowicz (Pat Noonan) 48+
NE – Pat Noonan (Adam Cristman) 93

CAROLINA RAILHAWKS: Chris McClellan, Caleb Norkus (Kevin Jeffrey 106), Frankie SanFilippo ©, David Stokes, Chad Dombrowski, Kupano Low, Stuart Brightwell (McColm Cephas 106), Jonny Steele, Philip Long (Joey Worthen 61), Connally Edozian, Anthony Maher (Joel Bailey 74)
Substitutes Not Used: John O’Hara, Matt Maher

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION: Matt Reis, Avery John (Sainey Nyassi 91), Michael Parkhurst, James Riley, Khano Smith, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Steve Ralston, Andy Dorman, Adam Cristman, Pat Noonan (Chris Loftus 106)
Substitutes Not Used: Doug Warren, Amaechi Igwe, Gary Flood, Kyle Helton, Bryan Byrne

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
CAR – Anthony Maher (caution) 21
CAR – David Stokes (caution) 41
NE – Avery John (caution) 41
CAR – Connally Edozien (ejection) 42
NE – Shalrie Joseph (ejection) 42
CAR – Kupano Low (caution) 55
NE – Jeff Larentowicz (caution) 73
CAR – David Stokes (ejection) 80
NE – Adam Cristman (caution) 88
CAR – Joel Bailey (caution) 106
CAR – Chad Dombrowski (caution) 110

MATCH STATISTICS             CAR        NE
Shots                                               8            18
Shots on Goal                              2             7
Saves                                               5             2
Fouls                                             17           20
Corners                                          5             8
Offsides                                         11            6

Referee: Shane Moody
Referee’s Assistant (SAR): Claudio Badea
Referee’s Assistant (JAR): Victor Matheson
Fourth Official: Gus St. Silva

Weather: Clear and 78 degrees
Time of Game: 2:32
Attendance: 4,203