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Unluckily down by a goal despite being the better side in the first half, the Colorado Rapids were as fortuitous as can be in extra time, winning the MLS Cup 2-1 over FC Dallas on an own goal.
In the 18th minute, game MVP Conor Casey got the ball to Macoumba Kandi on the right side. Kandji took on Jair Benitez, put it through his legs, before sending a cross that bounced off of FCD defender George John and past a helpless Kevin Hartman.
John later just failed to force penalties in the final seconds, as Matt Pickens made a great game-saving stop before the reviled Jeff Cunningham had an equalizer booted away off of the goal line. Dallas outshot Colorado 9-1 in the extra 30 minutes.
“I’ve never won anything, ever - seriously,” said a jubilant Casey - a member of TFC for two games once upon a time - when it was all over.
“We definitely noticed we had more support than they did. My time here was short, but it feels good to win no matter where it is.”
As showcase games go, it was not a jaw-dropping spectacle.
But the MLS Cup in Toronto was far from a dud and the fans got their money’s worth.
While there weren’t a ton of scoring opportunities, there were enough to keep spectators interested. There was an intensity and ruggedness to the proceedings befitting a match for all the marbles.
Even the weather played along as Major League Soccer’s fears of a snow-swept BMO Field that would force the game to be played in sub-par conditions with a bright orange ball didn’t come close to materializing
“The pitch had been difficult to play on - it’s very quick and it was always going to be tough if the game was too wide-open ... The sport is about adapting and we adapted well tonight,” said Rapids head coach Gary Smith.
The teams played each other to two draws earlier this season and were locked in another stalemate for much of the night.
Colorado’s defence looked outstanding early. Marvell Wynne - a champion after being traded away by TFC months ago - and midfielder Jeff Larentowicz, in particular, stymied a number of decent moves forward by Dallas and largely held an extremely dangerous attacking squad in check all night.
Though Colorado controlled the play in the first half, the team could not capitalize and found itself down at the half.
As is so often the way in sports, the next great chance following a missed opportunity by Casey went to the other team and Dallas showed its quick strike reputation was well-deserved.
In the 35th minute, Benitez made a clever long pass to Marvin Chavez who chested it down beautifully, before playing an even better ball across to league MVP David Ferreira who made no mistake, left-footing the ball past a helpless Pickens.
Just? Not really, since Colorado had clearly been the better side to that point, but things more than evened out later.
Colorado equalized in the 57th minute when midfielder Jamie Smith made a perfect cross to Casey. With Benitez and keeper Kevin Hartman entangled with him, Casey directed the ball in from his backside.
Colorado continued to press, forcing Hartman to make a tremendous save in the 62nd minute, diving to his left to deny a Larentowicz free kick.
The announcement that the crowd was 21,700 - a sellout - elicted a number of chuckles in the press box since it was clearly a fib.
The total was closer to 17,000 and a disappointing number of them checked out prior to the start of the extra thirty minutes.
Those not on hand missed a pretty good show and missed the chance to witness that rarest of sporting spectacles in Toronto - a pro team hoisting a championship on Hogtown soil.