MLS Cup Player Ratings: Colorado Rapids 2-1 FC Dallas

Hartman couldn't be faulted on either goal against him. He again had some good saves to aid the Dallas cause. If anything, perhaps Hartman's earlier heroics in the playoffs caused his defenders to relax just a bit, thinking him invincible. Hartman's goal kicks showed the pain of his injury continues and cost Dallas a bit playing catch-up.

Benitez soldiered on in the match, but his finesse skills didn't fit a gritty match like this one. He was too easily shoved aside by Mac Kandji on what turned out to be the game-winning goal.

John will bear the burden of the own goal - a fate far worse than a missed penalty, but for most of the evening, he kept one of the best target strikers in the league quiet.

If Ihemelu could have kept his late strike on goal down, he'd have been the huge hero for Dallas. Though neither goal against Dallas was at all his fault, his miss counts against him, even as a defender.

He wasn't really to blame for getting injured so early, but that substitution cost Dallas, and it was his substitute who got beat when Colorado first tied things up.

Hernandez lost in yet another final, though he practically killed himself on his injured knee to keep his team in this one. The spirit was there, but the flesh was somewhat hobbled.

Showed his MVP colors with a great early goal and with the late chance he created for Ihemelu. Emotions may have gotten in the way of his effectiveness, though, as he looked so distraught when his team fell behind - that didn't project much belief in a comeback.

Longest-tenured Dallas player on the field played like he wanted it like no other, but came up just a bit short.

Set up Ferreira beautifully for the goal, but cost his team somewhat when he tired later in the game.

Harris wasn't as effective as in the previous match, perhaps because his head injury might have dinged his confidence a bit going for balls in the air.

Pickens hesitated just slightly on the goal that put FC Dallas up first, but he was solid throughout the rest of the game. His defense assisted him mightily by collapsing around the goal during Dallas' attacks.

The young defender was willing and able to mix it up in a very physical game.

Wynne had both the speed and stamina to come back several times to clean up danger in front of the Colorado net, nullifying a lot of the Dallas threats.

Ed-Dallas player ran all game and cleared a ball off the line that would have equalized things for his old team.

In a more thuggish match, Kimura didn't have the insightful crosses he had in the playoff semifinal, but he did a lot of defending that slowed down Dalllas going forward.

Mullan now sits level with Jeff Agoos for most MLS rings ever. The veteran mixed it up in every way needed for his team all match long.

Big Red fought hard in the middle, keeping FC Dallas' smooth passing movement disrupted. Threatened the Dallas goal off set pieces, but couldn't get past Hartman.

The club captain helped push the squad forward when they were down, and didn't let his age show when they were a man down - chasing every ball.

Classy player found his moments to shine in a very mucky match. Got forward and crossed well on the attack that found the equalizer.

Solid at the start - his stinging shot from mid-distance when Dallas went up early sparked the Rapids into believing that they could rally. Faded later in game, though.