The skid is over.
FC Dallas used early goals from Maynor Figueroa and Roland Lamah to defeat the Colorado Rapids 2-0 Wednesday night at Toyota Stadium, snapping a season-long 10-game winless streak.
Dallas jumped on the visitors when Mauro Diaz and Hernan Grana worked a quick freekick that caught Colorado off guard. Grana's cross traveled across the top of the six - behind five Rapids defenders - before finding left back Figueroa all alone to knock in his third goal of the year.
Minutes later, Diaz sprung Grana again on the right side with a nice chip into the box. Grana one-timed a short cross to the on-rushing Lamah who beat his mark at the near post to double the lead.
With the loss, Colorado has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Goals
Three Things
- DIAZ INVOLVED: The team's midfield maestro has found it challenging influencing games of late. After registering assists in his first three starts since returning from a long injury, the 26-year-old went dry, failing to get on the scoreboard since July 4. Until tonight. The team's #10 twice cleverly sprung right back Hernan Grana behind the defense to set up goals for Figueroa and Lamah.
- DOWN THE LINES: Colorado's struggle to contain Dallas' outside backs in the first 10 minutes was the difference in the game. Not only did Grana get high enough to provide both assists, but one cross was to left back Maynor Figueroa, who snuck up behind Colorado's Eric Miller to put away the opening goal.
- ABOVE THE LINE: The winless streak had been weighing on FC Dallas for a while, so one can imagine the sense of relief to win their first game since July 22. Now with 41 points on the year, at least for the moment Dallas is back above the Western Conference playoff line. Only one point above Houston, Dallas still has a hill to climb to keep their position, with three of the team's final four games on the road.
