FC Dallas Falls to New England

Veteran midfielder Steve Ralston came on to start the second half and scored on a penalty kick in the 80th minute to give the New England Revolution a 2-1 win over FC Dallas on Saturday night.
 
Sainey Nyassi scored the tying goal for the Revolution (2-0-1) in the second half, while Kenny Cooper scored in the first half for FC Dallas (0-3-0).
 
Ralston was awarded the penalty kick after New England's Kheli Dube was fouled inside the penalty box area by defender George John.
 
Ralston scored his 70th MLS career goal, making goalkeeper Ray Burse commit himself and then sending a right-footed shot into the lower right corner of the net.
 
Nyassi, a 20-year-old midfielder, made a nifty run, turning John inside out and uncorking a 20-yard left-footed drive into the net, tying the score in the 56th minute.
 
Cooper one-touched a cross out of the left wing from Dave vandenBergh past New England's Brad Knighton in the 38th minute to give Dallas the lead.
 
FC Dallas, winless in nine of its previous 10 matches, had numerous chances to score during the first half. VandenBergh, in particular, uncorked scorching shots at Knighton.
 
Cooper had a trio of chances too, all stopped by Knighton, who was making just his second career start. Cooper also had Dallas' best scoring chance of the second half, a right-footed drive after a Revolution miscue in the 72nd minute.
 
New England's attack was minimal, mostly due to injuries, which have sidelined 99-goal scorer Taylor Twellman (neck). The Revs also were without three other starters -- goalkeeper Matt Reis (knee), defender Gabriel Badilla (back) and midfielder Mauricio Castro (hamstring).
 
Dallas, which hasn't won a match at New England since 2003, also had three first-half corner kicks in the Revolution's home opener played in cold and blustery conditions.