Frisco, Texas – Colorado’s attacking midfielder Alain Nkong suffered through a tough night Saturday in several ways.
Nkong earned a straight red card in the 53rd minute for serious foul play.
Nkong clashed with FC Dallas captain Simo Valakari, giving him a bloody nose.
However, before his ejection, Nkong was taken down three times in the first half and finally left the field for treatment after the third slide tackle in the 37th minute.
Nkong exchanged words with the FC Dallas bench as he made his way to midfield to re-enter the match.
After that incident, Nkong was heavily booed by the Dallas fans every time he touched the ball.
Historic night in MLS playoffs
The penalty-kick shootout marked the first time in MLS postseason history that a series had gone to penalty kicks.
The early years of the MLS featured the 35-yard running shootouts rather than the shot from the 12-yard penalty spot.
Cunningham draws start
Rapids forward Jeff Cunningham earned a start Saturday after sitting on the bench in the series opener.
Cunningham began the season on a red- hot scoring streak, with 10 goals at the all- star break.
However, the speedy forward cooled in the second half of the season by finishing with 12 goals.
Rapids, FC Dallas have history
Colorado eliminated FC Dallas from the playoffs in the first two postseason meetings between the clubs, in 1997 and 2002.
Saturday’s overtime marked the second occasion the teams had been deadlocked after regulation in the playoffs.
In the 2002 series, Mark Chung struck for a golden goal to eliminate Dallas. The sudden-death format was eliminated this year.
