Colorado Rapids Claim First MLS Cup Title With Overtime Defeat of FC Dallas

TORONTO -- A hard-fought, disjointed, rough-and-tumble MLS Cup final was decided in overtime in the most appropriate fashion -- by a fortunate bounce.

Colorado Rapids forward Macoumba Kandji, who was acquired midseason from the New York Red Bulls and entered Sunday's game eight minutes into overtime, had a spring in his step that FC Dallas' defense was lacking as a physical game neared its conclusion.

In possession of the ball deep on the right wing in the 107th minute, Kandji paused and froze FCD center back Jair Benitez before dribbling through his legs. A quick, rising ball sent goalkeeper Kevin Hartman moving toward the far post, while defender George John stepped forward to make the play. He did -- the ball bounced off John's upper body and into the net, for perhaps the ugliest championship winner you'll ever see.

It was scored as an own goal, and it lifted Colorado to a 2-1 victory and its first major trophy after 15 years of a mostly mediocre, almost irrelevant existence. The Rapids were the only MLS team that competed every year from 2000 through 2010 without appearing in either the MLS Cup or U.S. Open Cup final. Now they are the champions of American soccer.

The own goal was also a fitting way to end the Rapids' run through the postseason. After finishing seventh overall with a 12-8-10 record, Colorado was shifted over to the much easier Eastern Conference bracket thanks to the league's convoluted playoff format -- one that the MLS promised will change in 2011.

But the Rapids hardly made easy work of the lighter half of the draw. They needed penalty kicks to get past the Columbus Crew in the first round, then used a seeing-eye, long-range bouncer from defender Kosuke Kimura to oust San Jose in the semifinal, 1-0. On Sunday night in Toronto, an own goal was the difference between agony and history.

The overtime decision was as fitting as the ugly goal. Colorado and Dallas (14-4-15) had played to a tie in each of their two games this season, and the first 90 minutes in Toronto were practically dead even. Each club had its chances and enjoyed spells in charge, but neither could claim they deserved to avoid the extra 30 minutes of work.

Referee Baldomero Toledo was intent on giving the players leeway, and they took it. Powerful tackles, hard fouls and a few shoving matches consistently interrupted the flow; building any sort of attacking rhythm proved nearly impossible for both teams.
The Rapids owed their early influence to central midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, who was the best player at BMO Field much of the first half. The former New England Revolution stalwart played like a man desperate to avoid losing his fourth MLS final, and was winning just about every ball that came his way.

Colorado had the game's first chance, a low shot from winger Brian Mullan that Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was able to smother. While forward Conor Casey was working hard and involving himself in the attack, speedy strike partner Omar Cummings was invisible. In the 27th minute, Casey appealed for a penalty kick after an apparent trip by Benitez. But Toledo chose not to blow his whistle on what appeared to be a 50/50 call.

Around the half-hour mark, Dallas started to get more comfortable. Newly-crowned league MVP David Ferreira was finding more space behind Larentowicz and Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni, and Colorado was in retreat.

Then in the 35th, Dallas had the lead. Benitez sent a long ball from the back to midfielder Marvin Chávez, who had acres of space on the right. He curled a perfect pass in toward the six-yard box, and the ball just started to bend back away from the net as Ferreira raced through and volleyed it home (first video below). It was Ferreira's 10th goal of the year.

The advantage was Dallas', but they didn't seize it. The Rapids came out firing after halftime, and Casey was proving to be a nuisance. He was confrontational and aggressive, but the game called for that strategy and the motivated forward, left off the U.S. national team that went to the World Cup, was a man with something to prove.

He worked for the tying goal, his 15th of the year, colliding with Hartman and Benitez in the 56th minute before sweeping the loose ball over the line while lying on his back.

Momentum swung again, but FCD, fueled by feisty midfielder Dax McCarty, was unable to capitalize. There were chances -- including an open shot that Chávez seemed uncomfortable taking with his left foot -- but no goal.

The final seemed destined for penalties for the second straight year, then fate and John intervened (second video).

Kandji was injured after the goal and left the game, and the Rapids had used their three substitutions and were playing with 10 men. Dallas poured forward in a desperate search for the equalizer, which they probably deserved based on their play Sunday night and all throughout the finest season in club history.

But Colorado goalie Matt Pickens was equal to the challenge, leaping to his right to parry aside John's bid for redemption in stoppage time. Dallas' last gasp, a header from McCarty, looped just over the crossbar.

MLS commissioner Don Garber presented Mastroeni with the trophy in front of a half-empty BMO Field. It was after 11:30 p.m. local time when the game finally concluded, and with trains running on the hour and fans facing a looming Monday morning, many chose to leave before the matter had been settled. There was speculation that an organized fan walkout in protest of the local club's ticketing policies also contributed to the early exits.

No matter, Mastroeni had been waiting a long time for this moment, and he was going to savor it. Colorado's longest-tenured player, a two-time World Cup vet who endured a lot of losing since joining the club in 2002, was going to make the fans who stayed wait just a bit longer for the climax. He crouched with the cup for several long seconds before hoisting it high, screaming as he celebrated a very fortunate end to long game and his very long wait for a championship.