Kreis breaks record as D.C., Dallas tie
Eskandarian nets second-half equalizer for United
Kreis didn't waste much time in ending the suspense, his 37th-minute strike breaking the record previously held by Roy Lassiter and giving him goals in three consecutive games. But Eskandarian hit for his third goal in his last two matches, pulling the visitors level in the 58th minute.
Kreis' historic tally was typical of the lethal finishing he has shown throughout his MLS career. He latched onto a pass and quickly spun around deep in the United box before connecting on a first-time shot with his left foot that squeezed between United goalkeeper Troy Perkins and his left post. Kreis, a Burn original, has now scored on 30 differnet goalkeepers, inside 17 differnet stadiums and on passes from passes from 35 different teammates.
The home side was somewhat fortunate to have a one-goal advantage at the half as United had two clear chances to open the scoring early in the encounter.
Jaime Moreno almost found himself on the score sheet after only three minutes after United earned a series of corner kicks on the right side. The former Bolivian international got his head to the third and his attempt got past Dallas 'keeper Jeff Cassar, but Burn midfielder Oscar Pareja headed off the line.
The visitors had another golden opportunity to take the lead on the soggy Cotton Bowl field at the 20-minute mark. Burn 'keeper Jeff Cassar raced from his box to deal with a long United through ball, but his first touch was much too strong and Earnie Stewart took it off his feet before racing down the right flank. As Cassar scrambled back toward goal Stewart laid the ball off to a waiting Bobby Convey just eight yards from the net, but his shot skewed across the face of the goal and harmlessly past the left post.
As he has done so many times before, Kreis took advantage of a half-chance to open the Burn account, seizing his opportunity to score his history-making goal at home in front of the home crowd that also included the former record holder.
Dallas almost doubled the lead inside the first five minutes of the second stanza. A long ball over the top was flicked on by Eddie Johnson to a streaking Brad Davis, but his thumping effort was pushed by Perkins onto the left post and back out.
Ten minutes later United levelled terms as Eskandarian scored his third goal in two matches. An overlapping Bobby Convey took a pass from substitute Josh Gros in the left side of the area before driving a low centering pass across the face of goal, where Eskandarian slid through the six-yard box and poked the ball home to tie the match.
The home side had claims for a late penalty kick, as an Eric Quill cross seemed to hit Ezra Hendrickson in the arm in the area seven minutes from the final whistle, but referee Gus St. Silva was unmoved and did not award the spot kick, though the Burn did see their unbeaten streak extended to four matches with the draw.
D.C. United will face their Eastern Conference rival MetroStars next Saturday at 5 p.m. ET at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. (ESPN2). The Burn will be in action the same day when they travel to face the Kansas City Wizards in a Western Conference battle, kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium slated for 8:30 p.m. ET (HDNet).
MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Jason Kreis (Dallas Burn)
D.C. United (4-5-5) vs. Dallas Burn (4-4-4)
June 26, 2004 -- Cotton Bowl
Scoring Summary:
DAL -- Jason Kreis 3 (Oscar Pareja 2) 37
DC -- Alecko Eskandarian 4 (Bobby Convey 2, Joshua Gros 3) 58
D.C. United -- Troy Perkins, Ezra Hendrickson, Bryan Namoff, Mike Petke, Bobby Convey, Earnie Stewart, Brian Carroll, Ben Olsen (Joshua Gros 56), Dema Kovalenko, Alecko Eskandarian (Kevin Ara 89), Jaime Moreno (Freddy Adu 76).
Substitutes Not Used: Brandon Prideaux, Nick Rimando.
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Bobby Convey 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Alecko Eskandarian 3); FOULS: 19 (Bryan Namoff 4); OFFSIDES: 3 (3 tied with 1); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Bobby Convey 3); SAVES: 4 (Troy Perkins 3)
Dallas Burn -- Jeff Cassar, Philip Salyer (Ramon Nunez 89), Cory Gibbs, Steve Jolley, Chris Gbandi, Ronnie O'Brien, Oscar Pareja (Toni Nhleko 72), Carey Talley, Brad Davis (Eric Quill 77), Eddie Johnson, Jason Kreis.
Substitutes Not Used: Matt Behncke, Clarence Goodson, Milton Reyes, Jordan Stone, Andrew Terris, David Wagenfuhr.
TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Brad Davis 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (5 tied with 1); FOULS: 12 (3 tied with 2); OFFSIDES: 2 (Eddie Johnson 2); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Brad Davis 1, Jason Kreis 1); SAVES: 3 (Jeff Cassar 2)
Misconduct Summary:
DAL -- Carey Talley (caution; Reckless Foul) 8
DAL -- Philip Salyer (caution; Professional Foul) 35
DC -- Ezra Hendrickson (caution; Reckless Foul) 36
DC -- Bryan Namoff (caution; Professional Foul) 70
Referee: Gus St. Silva
Referee's Assistants: -Steven Davidson; Emiliano Monje
4th Official: Paul Hooks
Attendance: 13,833
Time of Game: 1:54
Weather: Rain-and-72-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
