A Kenny Cooper penalty kick in the 89th minute provided the tying goal, as FC Dallas came back to snatch a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on MLS Primetime Thursday at Pizza Hut Park.
Seconds after coming on as a substitute, the Quakes' Ryan Johnson broke up a very tight contest between the two teams in the thick of the race for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, putting San Jose ahead in the 58th minute.
But in the final minutes, San Jose midfielder Francisco Lima was ruled to have knocked down a cross with his hand by Eric Avila, and referee Abbey Okulaja whistled the deciding penalty kick.
The draw moved San Jose to 30 points and alone into sixth place in the West, one point ahead of Los Angeles, which plays at Columbus this weekend. FCD increased their point total to 34, which puts them into a three-way tie for third with Colorado and Real Salt Lake, with those two teams also facing games on Saturday.
At least in the early stages, it was the host side that was on the offensive. But the game's first testing chance didn't come until the 26th minute when San Jose forward Arturo Alvarez, who spent five years with the Hoops before being traded out west earlier this year, fouled Pablo Ricchetti about 30 yards from goal.
Andre Rocha took the resulting free kick and struck a nice, bending ball that curved toward the right post, where it was met by Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon, who perfectly executed a well-timed, diving save to keep the match scoreless.
The Earthquakes nearly jumped ahead in the 34th minute. Alvarez spotted Darren Huckerby making a great run down the center of the FCD half and slotted a quick ball to him. Huckerby had a one-on-one opportunity with FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala, but the Hoops 'keeper was able to get a hand on the ball and deflect the shot wide.
Just before halftime, San Jose dodged a huge bullet. After midfielder Ronnie O'Brien coughed up the ball in the visiting third, Cunningham spotted Cooper making a run inside the box. Cooper was all set to get a shot off when Earthquakes defender Nick Garcia executed a perfect slide tackle at the last possible moment to deflect the FCD striker's effort.
After 45 minutes of play, FCD had eight shots while the Earthquakes registered just four. But each goalkeeper had been called upon to make just the single save.
The first substitution of the game came in the 57th minute when San Jose head coach Frank Yallop went to his bench, bringing on Johnson for O'Brien. That change paid quick dividends when the San Jose midfielder converted less than a minute later.
San Jose defender Jason Hernandez got possession near the 18-yard box and then hit a long ball that bounced near midfield. That was where FCD center back Duilio Davino was marking Scott Sealy but Davino let the ball scoot through as it bounced over Sealy.
Johnson ran on to collect the ball just outside of the FCD box. With Hoops goalkeeper Dario Sala rushing to stop his progress, Johnson stroked a left-footed shot just inside Sala's right leg to give the visitors a 1-0 edge. It was his fifth goal of the year.
FC Dallas quickly tried to respond. Cunningham broke free for the Hoops in the 60th and with San Jose's James Riley in tow, got a shot off but it was right at Cannon and the MLS veteran made the save. Riley appeared to take the FCD striker down on the play but the infraction went uncalled.
Then in the 65th minute, after a Rocha corner kick, Davino had a nice look at the goal and took a shot. Riley got in front of the Mexican international's effort in the goalmouth and San Jose remained ahead 1-0.
FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman went to his bench in the 69th minute, taking off right back Adrian Serioux for speedy offensive threat Dominic Oduro. It was the Hoops' second change of the night. In the 62nd, Avila came on for Bruno Guarda.
Alvarez left the field in the 71st for Shea Salinas in Yallop's second change of the evening. Hyndman made his final change in the 82nd with Victor Sikora entering for Saragosa. It was Sikora's first action since Aug. 23 at Kansas City, when he left after 50 minutes with a right knee injury.
With FC Dallas pressing in vain for the tying goal,Avila sent a cross from the right flank that caught one of Lima's hands, and despite heavy protestations from the Earthquakes, referee Okujala awarded the penalty.
Cooper stepped up and converted. With Cannon going to his right, the FCD striker punched the ball into the left side of the net. It was the third PK Cooper has converted this year and his 16th goal of 2008. The goal was also the Hoops' 11th in the final 15 minutes this season.
San Jose returns to the field next Saturday, Oct. 11 against Chivas USA at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara. FCD's next action will be the same night when they play host to Toronto FC at Pizza Hut Park.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
