D.C. United and FC Dallas settled nothing in their matchup of the two top teams in Major League Soccer, though both teams remained unbeaten on the 2006 campaign after they played to a 1-1 draw Saturday evening at RFK Stadium.
A pair of long-range strikes in the first half provided all the scoring -- Ben Olsen for United after 17 minutes and Ronnie O'Brien for FC Dallas four minutes before halftime -- though FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala pulled off a string of remarkable saves in the second half to keep the score level.
On a night where United honored the club's "Decade's Best XI," the best team over the first 10 years in club history, the RFK faithful believed they had something to celebrate very early on when they thought Jaime Moreno had earned a penalty kick 10 minutes in, as he faked a shot and cut past FCD defender Drew Moor to race to the endline. The United captain went to ground with Moor hanging on for dear life, but referee Mark Geiger waved off the Bolivian's appeals as boos cascaded down.
FC Dallas fashioned their first chance two minutes later, as Ramon Nunez ran onto a Kenny Cooper flick-on at the top of the United penalty area and skewed a first-time shot wide of goal.
But the home side enjoyed most of the early possession, and made it count with a well-developed play in the 17th minute that culminated with a great finish by Olsen. Alecko Eskandarian cut in from the right wing and sent a pass across the top of the Dallas penalty area that Josh Gros knocked back first-time to Olsen, who gave his side an early lead with a wickedly-struck left-footed shot that beat netminder Sala from 20 yards out.
The goal was Olsen's first of the season and offered further proof of his exceptional play in 2006, which has certainly not escaped the notice of U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena, who was in attendance thanks to United's pre-game ceremony and his selection as the coach in the representation.
Nunez had another great look at goal in the 27th minute as he beat the offside trap to float in behind Facundo Erpen, settling O'Brien's searching ball with his chest, only to volley just wide of the near post with only Perkins to beat.
But O'Brien took matters into own hands just four minutes before halftime with a stunning drive from long distance that brought his side level. Having received a square pass from Mark Wilson in ample space in the D.C. half, O'Brien briefly considered his options before drilling a 25-yard shot past Perkins.
Now suddenly level through the brillantly taken goal, United had to try and find their way back on top at home, and after the break started pouring forward in waves.
Freddy Adu started a flowing move with a nifty bit of skill in the 54th minute, nutmegging Greg Vanney in front of the United bench before racing down the right touchline to center for Moreno -- but the Dallas back line was able to clear the danger.
Cooper was a constant threat at the other end, however, and two minutes later he teased Bobby Boswell before curling a well-weighted ball to the far post that would have been a simple finish for Wilson, but the Englishman couldn't quite stretch far enough to get that crucial touch.
D.C. seemed to have vaulted themselves back in front off a short corner in the 62nd minute, as Boswell directed a strong header to the far post that Sala palmed away with a spectacular save, only for Gros to bundle home the loose ball from close range. But even as the crowd began to roar in celebration, referee Geiger saw his assistant referee's flag aloft and waved off the goal.
The Argentine 'keeper then made two more huge saves in quick succession, first denying Christian Gomez's beautifully-hit free kick, then smothering Eskandarian after the striker was sent clear by a Gros through ball.
The visitors were riding their netminder's luck now as United threw numbers forward in search of the go-ahead goal. Sala came sliding out to block Adu's shot after the teenager had beaten Vanney again, then made his ninth save of the match with yet another one-on-one block on Eskandarian.
Sensing that a draw might be a satisfactory result for his team under the circumstances, Dallas coach Colin Clarke made two defensive substitutions shortly thereafter, pulling off Cooper and Alex Yi to bring on Aaron Pitchkolan and Clarence Goodson.
For their part, United subbed in Lucio Filomeno to try and sniff out a late winner, and he and Adu nearly converted several half-chances as the Hoops defended with growing desperation in the dying minutes.
Filomeno and Gomez came agonizingly close in the 83rd minute as the striker turned sharply in the Dallas box and reached the left endline to center for his fellow Argentinean, but with Sala stranded at the near post, Moor was able to bundle the ball away before Gomez arrived.
United coach Peter Nowak used his final substitution to throw speedster Jamil Walker into the fray, but the move failed to pay dividends as FC Dallas pushed forward and grabbed just enough ball possession to kill off the three minutes of injury time and escape with a 1-1 draw.
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
