Senegalese playmaker sparks Colorado to MLS crown

Colorado’s Macoumba Kandji fired a shot that produced an over-time own goal in the 107th minute and gave the Rapids a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas in Major League Soccer Cup final.

The Senegalese forward eluded a defender near the backline to the left of Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and fired a shot that struck the left knee of Dallas defender George John and deflected into the goal.

Kandji was injured on the play and went off but 10-man Colorado had enough left to finish off the remainder of a second 15-minute extra-time period to give the Rapids their first MLS crown in the North American league’s 15 season.

John blasted a hard shot that was batted away by Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens and defender Drew Moor, a former FC Dallas player, kicked away another bid in the final seconds as the Rapids denied Dallas an equalizer.

The Rapids lost the 1997 final in their only prior trip to the championship game while the Texas team was making its first appearance in the final, which was played in cold and windy conditions.

Dallas striker David Ferreira, an attacking midfielder from Colombia, opened the scoring in the 35th minute, racing up the middle of the field unmarked and flicking home a left-footed shot to give Dallas a 1-0 lead.

Ferreira was voted the MLS regular season Most Valuable Player, scoring eight goals and setting up 13 others.

Colorado equalized in the 57th minute when American Conor Casey flicked a loose ball into the net while on his back as he and Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and a Dallas defender were all sprawled on the ground.

Rapids defender Kosuke Kimura was cheered on by his parents, who flew from Japan to support the Kobe native.

MLS commissioner Don Garber said Sunday that the league will expand its playoff field from eight to 10 teams next year and will look into realigning its season to conform with the calendar used by most other nations worldwide.

MLS will grow to 18 clubs in 2011 when the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps begin play, with a Montreal team set to join in 2012. Each team will play 34 regular-season games in 2011, four more than 2010.