FC Dallas Vs. Colorado Rapids, 2012 MLS: Red Cards Cost Hosts Dear In 2-0 Loss

A hilariously one-sided affair FC Dallas Stadium ended 2-0 to the Colorado Rapids, who scored as many goals as their hosts had players sent off in the first half. There's no telling how the match would have gone if not for the brace of (deserved) red cards that Dallas received early, but as it stood they managed just one shot to their opponents' 23, and were lucky not to have been on the end of an absolute hammering.

Daniel Hernandez was the first to be sent for an early bath when he clattered into Martin Rivero just after the half hour mark and just nine minutes after being booked for dissent. Hernandez had no room for appeal - it was a pretty blatent charge - and neither did Blas Perez when he received a straight red for a flying kick into Drew Moor's groin. Perez, who's already been suspended once for violent conduct, complained anyway, much to the disbelief of the Rapids, and Dallas were down to nine.

The visitors struggled to take advantage of their opportunity, although not for lack of effort. Faced with a huge disadvantage, Dallas were forced to rely on Kevin Hartman in goal, and he didn't disappoint, stopping more or less everything that the Rapids could throw at him until the finally made the breakthrough via Jaime Castrillion's close range header. Rivero followed that up with a precise shot on the turn, and then Hartman had to make a slew of saves to keep it at 2-0. Even then, the woodwork bailed him out twice, with Jeff Larentowitz and Kamani Hill both denied in the closing stages.