Nat Borchers and Will Johnson celebrate RSL's match winner. (Getty Images)
I apologize in advance if this entry comes across as a little homerific. It's hard to have been there and not get caught up in the moment all over again when reflecting on it for a match review. Both RSL and Dallas were missing some key players. Dallas was missing Brek Shea, who was serving the last game of his suspension. RSL were missing Javier Morales and Chris Wingert through injury, and Kyle Beckerman was away with the national team along with 'keeper Nick Rimando.
The first half was largely boring from both sides. Keep in mind that Dallas played midweek in Chicago as well. RSL certainly had the better of chances and possession, but it wasn't stellar at all. The best chance came in the 12th minute when Will Johnson sent a ball into Ned Grabavoy in the 18. Grabavoy smashed the ball at goal but Kevin Hartman was equal to it, diving to the side for a great save.
The best chance for Dallas came in the 36th minute when Jackson took a cross from Bryan Leyva and swatted it at Reynish's net, but it in the end it sailed harmlessly off target. The half ended with both sides still scoreless.
RSL came out with better energy right away in the second half and managed to carve out some chances. In the 47th minute Johnson sent a long range effort in, but again Kevin Hartman made the save. In the next minute Luis Gil took his crack at goal, but watched his shot sail high.
The Claret and Cobalt finally broke the deadlock in the 59th minute. Japanese defender Terukazu Tanaka, who started for the injured Wingert, sent a gorgeous cross into the 6 that found Alvaro Saborio making a run on goal. Sabo got his head to it and deftly flicked the ball inside the far post to give RSL the 1-0 lead.
FC Dallas, tired and gassed from the altitude, could have packed it in but they didn't. They managed to get some decent spells of possession all night long and caused RSL a few problems in front of goal. They equalized in the 75th minute with a goal from Matt Hedges. He put a right footed shot on frame after some close play in the box. Reynish jumped and knocked the ball away, but the officials ruled that the whole of the ball crossed the line and gave FC Dallas the goal to make it 1-1. I sit at the opposite and of the stadium, so I couldn't tell. Plus, the only replay angle I saw afterward wasn't real conclusive either. In the end, the goal was given, and that's what matters.
Dallas's joy didn't last long though. Their defense seemed to switch off in the wake of the equalizer, and RSL made them pay. In the 76th minute. Grabavoy slid a ball over to Saborio, who put in a shot on target that somehow managed to sneak by Hartman and into the near post this time to make it 2-1 RSL.
Again Dallas kept fighting though, and they deserve a lot of credit for the spirit they showed late in the match. In the 85th minute Jonathan Top dished to Blas Perez, who drove a shot right at Kyle Reynish in goal. The RSL 'keeper seemed to have a bead on it but it managed to slip through his hands and into the bottom corner to equalize the match again at 2-2.
At that point some fans started to exit Rio Tinto Stadium, and I truly feel bad for them. As the 90 expired the 4th official held up the board that indicated 4 minutes of stoppage time. It was plenty of time for some RSL magic, and they delivered. In the 3rd minute of stoppage the ball fell kindly to Nat Borchers in the box following a Jonny Steele free kick. Borchers, with the finish of a skilled forward, stroked the ball into the upper 90 of the net to give RSL the 3-2 win. I don't know about anyone else in the stadium, but our section went insane. What a finish!
Notes: Dallas will be happy to get Brek Shea back after the international break, since last night finished his suspension. They are now winless in their last 9 matches and sit only ahead of the last place Galaxy in the Western Conference table. RSL takes over first place, at least temporarily, ahead of Sunday's match between Sporting KC and San Jose. They are unbeaten in their last six.
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