By JOSE M. ROMERO
Jeff Cunningham had the perfect opportunity for a historic goal.
His close-range open shot, off a brilliant back flick from teammate Emilio Renteria in the 61st minute, missed wide. A goal would have put Cunningham into a tie with Jaime Moreno for first place all-time in goals in MLS history, and would have given him the Columbus Crew franchise record for goals.
It would have been the most-talked about goal of the match, but the Crew didn't need it. Columbus, with a man advantage for the final 57-plus minutes of its match Friday night with FC Dallas, got a PK goal from Andres Mendoza in the 54th minute and picked up its first win of the 2011 MLS season, 2-0.
Eddie Gaven scored in second-half stoppage time for the Crew to put the finishing touches on a quality performance of possession by the Crew.
The Crew improved to 1-1-1 while FC Dallas, an MLS Cup finalist last season, remained winless at 0-2-1 and lost its second straight match.
FCD fans can take some heart; it took FC Dallas six matches to get its first MLS win last season and the team ended up playing for the championship.
FCD coach Schellas Hyndman used his third different starting 11, as Ruben Luna and promising youngster Fabian Castillo started up top and Brek Shea was back from a one-game suspension at center back. Castillo had a strong first half, using his speed to win one-on-ones down the flank, but faded in the second.
The turning point of the match came in the 33rd minute, when Jackson was issued the second of two yellow cards within a minute of each one. That gave the Crew the boost it needed in the second half.
In the 53rd minute, Emmanuel Ekpo drew a foul in the box on FC Dallas defender George John, as Gaven fed a ball through the middle toward the goal. Mendoza took the PK and the ball glanced off FC Dallas keeper Kevin Hartman's outstretched left hand and into the net.
Gaven's goal was just insurance, as the Crew were on their way to winning in the closing seconds.
