Disappointment in the Big D

FRISCO, Tex. – Holding a two-goal lead late, the New England Revolution surrendered a pair of goals in the waning minutes as they drew 2-2 to FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park Wednesday night.

Joseph’s score in the 5^th minute gave the Revolution the early lead, while Ilija Stolica scored another in the 66^th minute. But David Ferreira’s 80^th minute penalty and Jeff Cunningham’s 93^rd minute goal clinched the come from behind draw.

Shalrie Joseph's first goal of the season gave the Revs an early lead in Dallas. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

The draw extended Dallas’ league-best 16-match unbeaten streak.

New England opened the game with a swagger unseen in their previous pair of matches. The first opportunity to crack the scoresheet appeared only four minutes in when Marko Perovic uncorked a shot that Dario Sala punched away.

But the keeper wasn’t up to the task a minute later when the Revolution marched toward his net. Chris Tierney captured a wayward ball in the middle and sailed it ahead into the heart of the box, where Joseph settled it, took a touch, and struck it past Sala to earn his club their first lead of the road trip.

After the guests had dominated the middle for the first ten minutes, Dallas began to put up a fight. Atiba Harris carried it in to the box, where he eventually crashed down and requested a penalty.

Playing with newfound confidence, they looked primed to score another until the 31^st minute when Milton Rodriguez sent a ball ahead to Ferreira inside the 18, where he and Kenny Mansally battled for it before Dallas’ midfield maestro hit the pitch and was awarded a penalty.

Ferreira stepped up to the spot, but hooked it wide right in the 34^th minute to leave the board unblemished. Knowing they had dodged a bullet, the Revolution backline clamped down to keep Dallas off the board in the first frame.

With their best 45 minutes of their three-match road set under their belts, the Revolution eyed another solid frame in the second half.

However, Dallas came out of the locker room a new team. A team ready to attack and assert themselves in the midfield.

They wasted little time doing so, as Martin Chavez trekked into the attacking third and delivered a smart cross toward the far post, where an unmarked Eric Alexander headed it over the bar in the 53rd minute.

Minutes later, Ferreira followed up with a sizzling shot from twenty that Matt Reis casually snatched above his head in the 55^th minute.

By the hour it was clear that that the hosts had owned the ball, sending a series of attacks toward the Revolution backs.

After sustaining enemy fire for much of the frame, the Revolution finally responded in the 66^th when Perovic raced down the left and slid it toward a streaking Stolica, who poked it through to give his club a commanding two-goal lead.

But Dallas was far from finished. Shortly after Ferreira was taken down inside the area again – this time by Darrius Barnes – another penalty was awarded by referee Baldomero Toledo in the 79^th minute. Ferreira’s second go from the spot didn’t miss, and put the score at 2-1 in the 80^th minute.

Clutching a tenuous one-goal lead into stoppage, the Revolution survived a series of late Dallas attacks until Eric Avila delivered a keen ball from D toward the right post, where Ferreira tapped it toward the opposite stick. At the last possible moment, Cunningham charged ahead and redirected it through to give Dallas the last-gasp draw.