Frisco, Texas – Ramon Nuñez scored twice Sunday, leading FC Dallas to a 3-1 victory over the Rapids in Major League Soccer.
Nuñez broke a 1-1 tie in the 78th minute when he curled a free kick from the left side over a wall of defenders. The ball bounced off the fingertips of Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and into the right corner of the net.
FC Dallas was given the free kick after Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni received a yellow card for taking down Nuñez near the penalty box.
In the 29th minute, Nuñez took a pass from Dax McCarty and dribbled around Brandon Prideaux at the top of the goalkeeper’s box, causing Prideaux to fall while trying to change directions, before placing a shot inside the left post from 12 yards out.
Colorado’s Jovan Kirovski tied the game 1-1 in the 34th minute with an assist from Terry Cooke. Kirovski scored by taking a chip shot from inside the penalty box that bounced over the head of FC goalie Shaka Hislop and into the net.
Dominic Oduro gave FC Dallas (2-1-1) an insurance goal in the 93rd minute.
Colorado eliminated FC Dallas from the MLS Cup playoffs the past two seasons, both times on penalty-kick shootouts and on the road. After last season’s meeting, a postgame altercation between the clubs resulted in MLS suspending FC Dallas goalie Dario Sala for the first six games of the 2007 season for punching Kirovski and teammate Hunter Freeman.
The Rapids (1-1-1) have not won a regular-season game on the road against FC Dallas since May 5, 2001.
Colorado 1 0 – 1
FC Dallas 1 2 – 3
Scoring – FC Dallas, Ramon Nuñez 1 (McCarty) 29th minute; Colorado, Jovan Kirovski 1 (Cooke) 34th; FC Dallas, Ramon Nuñez 2 (unassisted) 78th; Dominic Oduro 1 (Cooper) 93rd.
Goalkeepers – Colorado, Coundoul, 7 shots-4 saves; FC Dallas, Hislop, 1-0. Total shots – Colorado 10, FC Dallas 11. Fouls – Colorado 19, FC Dallas 19. Offsides – Colorado 2, FC Dallas 3. Corner kicks – Colorado 4, FC Dallas 5.
Cautions – Beckerman, Colo., (tackle from behind) 7th; Ruiz, Dal., reckless foul), 26th; Moor, Dal., professional foul, 58th; Goodson, Dal., reckless foul, 59th; Pitchkolan, Dal., professional foul, 61st; Mastroeni, Colo., professional foul, 77th.
A – 20,500.
