Cole Bassett helped force an own goal just before halftime, Calvin Harris added his second goal of the season shortly after the break and the Colorado Rapids held on for a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas on Saturday night in Commerce City, Colo.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen made two saves to help stretch Colorado’s unbeaten run to four matches (3-0-1).
Kevin Cabral set up Harris’ strike for the Rapids (4-2-3, 15 points), who are already one victory shy of matching their win total from a miserable 2023 campaign.
Petar Musa responded with a goal for Dallas (1-5-2, five points), which hadn’t scored since the 51st minute of a match against Austin FC on March 30.
Maarten Paes made three stops for the visitors, who have not earned a victory since a season-opening win over San Jose and are weathering the absence of star striker Jesus Ferreira (hamstring).
It looked like Colorado and Dallas would head into halftime scoreless after the Rapids failed to convert a pair of excellent chances.
The first came in the 33rd minute when Cabral couldn’t get in position to dispatch a dangerous cross, with the ball instead bouncing off his thigh and skimming the top of the crossbar.
Then in the 45th, Rafael Navarro had a one-on-one opportunity with Paes, but Paes made a fantastic diving stop to his right.
But FC Dallas couldn’t clear the danger following Paes’ denial, and eventually, Bassett got to the ball on the left flank. He dragged a firm cross back from the byline, and Sebastien Ibeagha turned it into his own goal while trying to prevent it from reaching a Rapids attacker.
Paes also must have thought he had done enough when Harris made it 2-0 in the 49th minute, redirecting his shot from close range after Harris controlled Cabral’s cross.
But the ball then caromed off a retreating defender and across the goal line, and Paes could only flail his arms in disgust as Harris claimed the tally.
Musa found the back of the net in the 87th minute, but Dallas could never find the equalizer.
–Field Level Media