• Recap
• Bleachers

Nunez's two goals lift FC Dallas over Colorado

Apr 22, 2007 - 11:04 PM FRISCO, Texas (Ticker) -- Ramon Nunez helped FC Dallas exact a measure of revenge on the Colorado Rapids.

Nunez scored two goals, including the go-ahead tally off a free kick, as FC Dallas posted a 3-1 victory over the Rapids in their home opener.

Colorado has knocked FC Dallas (2-1-1) out of the playoffs the last two seasons on penalty kicks, including a heated exchange last campaign that was marred by a fight in the postmatch celebration.

"The players used it as motivation before the start of the game since losing to them in the playoffs last year was still fresh in their minds," FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow said. "I thought it was a good, competitive game throughout."

FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala had punched former Colorado defender Hunter Freeman and current Rapids forward Jovan Kirovski in 2006, and intensity carried over to Sunday's contest.

"It's always a tough game (with Dallas), especially with the playoff runs we've had the last couple of years," Kirovski said. "It's always going to be a battle."

But Morrow did not see it that way.

"I don't think it's any different for us to play them than any other team," Morrow said. "I don't want to make an issue of any kind of rivalry at all."

In the 78th minute, Rapids midfielder-defender Pablo Mastroeni pulled down Nunez from behind and the two had to be separated. But on the ensuing free kick, Nunez wrapped the ball around the wall and into the right corner of the net to snap a 1-1 tie.

"The keeper (Bouna Coundoul) was cheating a little bit on all the free kicks that we took," Nunez said. "I just felt if I hit it short and low, it had a chance of going in. I just hit it hard and prayed for it to go in."

Nunez opened the scoring in the 29th minute on a brilliant open-field play. Dax McCarty drew the defense to the middle of the field and dropped a pass to Nunez, who slid past Rapids defender Brandon Prideaux and buried the ball into the left corner.

"I thought (Nunez) gave a great effort," Morrow said. "I told him when he came back on Friday night it was questionable whether I was going to start him. He had been away all week, so it was a great effort by him to come back and play that well.

"Having not trained all week and being part of the team, he was desperate to play. It was hard for Colorado's midfielders to pick him up."

Dominic Oduro added an insurance goal during stoppage time to secure the victory.

Kirovski scored the lone goal for Colorado (1-1-1), which has not beaten FC Dallas on the road since May 5, 2001.

"The game was great today until the second half, when (FC Dallas) got the second goal," Kirovski said. "Overall, we played all right and defended well, but it's always tough to lose."