Match Thoughts: Columbus Crew vs. FC Dallas

Justin Meram hits the equalizer for the Crew.  (Getty Images)

In Major League Soccer the Pioneer Cup is contested by two MLS franchises founded by US Soccer Legend Lamar Hunt: the Columbus Crew and FC Dallas (Formerly Dallas Burn).  However, this pretty good rivalry has been tempered by MLS's new unbalanced schedule because as they're in different conferences, they'll only play each other once per year.  It's ok for my overseas readers to scratch their heads at this point.  Suffice it to say, there was silverware on the line at Crew Stadium.

The Crew announcers described it as a tough, physical battle between brothers.  That's pretty much what it was, though Dallas's continued poor discipline would come back to haunt them yet again in this one. The first half was heavily tilted toward the Hoops though, with Fabian Castillo getting the better of the Crew defense a couple of times.  In the 7th minute Castillo stormed past the back line and got a look at the open net, but put his shot wide.  However, in the 22nd he charged up the touch line, and was challenged by Crew midfielder Tony Tchani.  The ball rolled precariously on the line itself, but did not go totally out.  Tchani thought it did.  He stopped and raised his hand.  Unfortunately, the AR was watching the actual ball, hence play continued.  Castillo blew past the dumbfounded Tchani and roared into the 18, blasting the ball past Andy Gruenebaum to give FC Dallas the 0-1 lead.

Dallas would hold the lead into halftime, but Zach Loyd picked up a yellow card in the 43rd minute.  That would prove costly.  In the 63rd minute he received his second yellow for a foul on Justin Meram and earned an early shower via red card.  Once again Dallas was down a man.

It didn't take long for the Crew to capitalize against weary FC Dallas, who lost to Seattle midweek.  In the 67th minute Meram unleashed a shot from outside the box that beat Chris Seitz into the bottom of the goal to tie the match at 1-1.  Then in the 72nd the Crew took the lead for good as  Sebastián Miranda hit a 20 yard line drive header into the net to make it 2-1.

Dallas didn't give up though, as they managed a couple of chances late on set pieces.  Both of them ended up being headers by George John, one in the 81st and one in stoppage time.  However neither of them really tested Gruenebaum and the Crew held on to take the 2-1 win.

NOTES:  The win breaks a 5 game winless streak for the Crew, and ends a streak of two straight without a goal.  Both Meram and Miranda notched their first ever MLS goal with their respective strikes.  Crew forward Ethan Finlay was subbed out in the first half with concussion like symptoms.  FC Dallas are now winless in 6, and have lost three straight.