Rafael Navarro recorded a brace, with his goal in the 72nd minute proving the equalizer, as the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas settled for a 3-3 draw on Saturday in a Western Conference match in Commerce City, Colo.
Both created late scoring chances but neither could capitalize on one of them.
The Rapids (0-0-2, 2 points), who didn’t even manage a shot on goal in their MLS season-opening scoreless draw at St. Louis, wasted little time lighting up the scoreboard on Saturday.
Keegan Rosenberry, who was working on the left side in the sixth minute, took an innocuous pass from Oliver Larraz and lifted an arching shot toward the far post. Dallas keeper Maarten Paes could not corral it, giving the home side a 1-0 lead.
Colorado dominated the first 40 minutes, adding to the advantage in the 39th minute when Djordje Mihailovic’s pass into the goal mouth was redirected onto the head of Rafael Navarro, who pushed the ball into the net past Paes.
Dallas (1-0-1, 4 points) responded fiercely, halving its deficit just four minutes later as Pedrinho blistered a deflected pass from Anderson Julio into the net beyond Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen. It was Pedrinho’s first MLS goal.
The Toros then found the equalizer, with Luciano Acosta and Petar Musa working a lovely give-and-go that resulted in a nifty, finessed shot by Acosta. He lifted the ball over a diving Steffen in the 45th minute.
Dallas continued to make the plays early in the second half. Musa volleyed the rebound Julio’s shot after Steffen made the block and found the open net in the 68th minute.
But the Toros’ lead was short-lived. Colorado swung back just four minutes later when Navarro produced his second tally, running to the far post for a touch assist from Larraz after a feathered entry pass by Mihailovic, tying the score at 3-3.
Dallas looked to have found the net again the 79th minute, but Logan Farrington’s shot into the net was flagged for offside and verified by video review.
–Field Level Media
