COMMERCE CITY – Nick LaBrocca’s second-half equalizer for Colorado on Friday Night earned the team a point in a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
The Rapids (1-2-4), who still haven’t won at home this season, earned their fourth draw in 2015.
FC Dallas (4-2-2) had the first quality chance on net in the fifth minute as Blas Perez found his way behind Colorado’s defense, but goalkeeper Clint Irwin denied the attempt from close range.
Dallas continued their push on goal in the 31st minute as Fabian Castillo drew Rapids players on the right side of the six-yard box and then crossed a pass to an open Mauro Diaz who ripped it home, giving them a 1-0 lead.
“He’s a very good player. We’ve been looking at him for the past three weeks after two games against him in two weeks. He got loose one time and punished us,” Drew Moor said of Castillo.
Colorado had looks on goal numerous times in the first-half but couldn’t find the back of the net. LaBrocca had an attempt in the ninth minute hit the right post and defenseman Axel Sjöberg nearly headed one home after a scramble on a corner kick in the 22nd minute. The Rapids had their final opportunity to even it up before half when Dillon Powers ripped a low shot but Dallas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy came up with the big save in stoppage time.
Colorado opened up the second-half on the same attack as the end of the first, Argentinian midfielder Juan Ramirez sailed a shot just above the crossbar in the 55th minute.
After a scuffle in the box, Blas Perez was booked with a red card (59′) after shoving Drew Moor to the ground, giving Colorado the man advantage for the remaining 35 minutes of the match.
The Rapids evened the game 1-1 when Lucas Pittinari sent a long pass across the box to Powers, who then headed it to an open Nick LaBrocca, who slammed it home for his first goal of the season.
“Number one was to make contact to get it on frame and past the goalkeeper. If we were scoring a ton of goals then I think it would have been a different story; then you can brace for it. At that point it’s whatever hit you take, you take. As long as it gets in that goal, it doesn’t matter what it takes,” LaBrocca said of the finish.
Colorado increased their pressure in the final five minutes, spending it almost exclusively in the FC Dallas third of the field, but they couldn’t find a late winner and were forced to settle for a point.
Up next for Colorado is a mid-week matchup with the New York Red Bulls Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena at 5:30 pm. You can catch that game on Mile High Sports Radio AM 1550| FM 94.1|96.9 in Boulder.
Jesse Trujillo is a producer and writer for Mile High Sports. He can be emailed at jtrujillo81@gmail.com and followed on Twitter @Jtrujillo1981