Cooper's Penalty Kick Lifts FC Dallas by Crew
Sunday, Jun 21, 2009 | Updated 10:30 AM CST
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CARSON, CA - APRIL 25: Kenny Cooper #33 of FC Dallas paces the ball on the attack in the first half during the MLS against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on April 25, 2009 in Carson, California. Chivas USA defeated FC Dallas 2-0. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
FC Dallas scored twice in the final 10 minutes, including Kenny Cooper's penalty kick in the 87th minute, for a 2-1 win over Columbus on Saturday night that snapped the Crew's nine-game unbeaten streak.
Dallas (3-7-4) was awarded a penalty kick after Crew defender Chad Marshall was called for a reckless foul inside the penalty box on David Ferreira. Cooper notched his seventh goal of the year by putting the kick into the left corner of the net.
Dallas had tied the game when Eric Avila, who entered just four minutes earlier, scored his first career MLS goal in the 80th minute. Avila curled a right-footed volley from outside the top left corner of the penalty box and into the right corner of the net.
Columbus (4-3-7) took the lead in the 17th minute on an own goal by Dallas captain Pablo Ricchetti. A corner kick from Guillermo Barros Schelotto was headed by Eric Brunner toward the Dallas net, then bounced off Ricchetti's chest and into the right corner.
It was the second time in three games that Ricchetti has been the victim of an own goal. Ricchetti's other own goal was in a 2-2 tie against San Jose on June 7.
Copyright Associated Press
Posted Friday, Jul 17, 2009 - 10:51 AM CST
