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One Emilio Goal Means Three Points For Ten-Man DC United
It was the game's only strike that settled things between DC United and the Houston Dynamo.
Apr 5, 2009 12:19:08 AM
An early goal in the second half from Luciano Emilio for D.C. United was enough
to earn United three points against Houston Dynamo in a 1-0 victory, as United
were forced to finish the game with just ten men, after Jamie Moreno was sent
off in the 71 minute.
After a slow first half, in which the two teams combined for just one shot on goal, Emilio struck in the 47th minute to give United a 1-0 lead. United then had to hold on desperately for their win, as substitute Jamie Moreno was red carded in the 71 minute, leaving United short-handed for the final twenty minutes of the game, and handing Houston several good chances at finding an equalizing goal.
Neither team could create many chances in the opening half, as both teams struggled to find any rhythm to the game. The lone shot on goal was from Emilio in the 31 minute, but Dynamo keeper Pat Onstad had no troubles holding on to the shot. Houston only managed a lone shot in the first half, but several dangerous crosses were caught by United goalkeeper Louis Crayton, who was making his first appearance for United on the season.
Houston was also forced to play the game without head coach Dominic Kinnear at the helm, after he was sent off during last week's 3-2 to San Jose. Assistant coach John Spencer stepped in for the day, as Kinnear had to watch the game from the stands.
In the second half, D.C. quickly found a goal that was able to galvanize the small crowd of 12,594. D.C. United defender Bryan Namoff sent a long ball into the box, which Houston was unable to properly deal with. The ball then dropped into the path of Emilio, who then lifted the ball over an onrushing Onstad. The ball had just enough to get over Onstad, and was then able to drop into the goal, giving United the lead.
Houston than immediately began to apply pressure, looking for the equalizer right away. In the 52 minute, Houston had a corner, which was knocked around the box, before being put on target, only for Namoff to clear away near the goal line.
Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis, who scored last weekend against San Jose, had a couple of chances in the second half, one of which tested Crayton in the 60th minute. Crayton was able to deal with the shot, but Houston continued to pressure United, looking for the equalizer.
In the 65 minute, United brought on Jamie Moreno in place of striker Ange N'Silu, who had started for the first time this season for United. Six minutes later though, Moreno was right back off the pitch.
Davis had the ball in midfield, moving towards the United goal, when he was brought down from behind by Moreno. Referee Baldomero Toledo did not hesitate in reaching for his back pocket, and immediately sent off Moreno in the 71 minute. Moreno protested the call, by his arguments fell on deaf ears, as United would be forced to finish the match with ten men.
Houston then began to pile the pressure, as United brought on Greg Janicki for Ben Olsen in the 79th minute, and pulled back to a formation with four defenders, four midfielders, and Emilio alone up top.
One of the best opportunities fell again to Davis, whose sizzling shot from outside the box was pushed onto the bar by Crayton. With D.C. dropping further and further back to defend, Houston continued to send in crosses from the wings, all of which were either collected by Crayton, or missed headers from Houston.
Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden had a pair of good chances late on, but went just wide of the bar in the 85th minute from twenty yards out, and then had another shot in the 90th minute held by Crayton.
With time running out on their chances of finding an equalizer, Houston could not muster that one opportunity or break that would find them a goal that they were looking for, and after three minutes of stoppage time, Toledo signaled the end of the game. The final whistle then signaled D.C. United's first win of the season, and condemmed Houston to just one point from their first three games.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
After a slow first half, in which the two teams combined for just one shot on goal, Emilio struck in the 47th minute to give United a 1-0 lead. United then had to hold on desperately for their win, as substitute Jamie Moreno was red carded in the 71 minute, leaving United short-handed for the final twenty minutes of the game, and handing Houston several good chances at finding an equalizing goal.
Neither team could create many chances in the opening half, as both teams struggled to find any rhythm to the game. The lone shot on goal was from Emilio in the 31 minute, but Dynamo keeper Pat Onstad had no troubles holding on to the shot. Houston only managed a lone shot in the first half, but several dangerous crosses were caught by United goalkeeper Louis Crayton, who was making his first appearance for United on the season.
Houston was also forced to play the game without head coach Dominic Kinnear at the helm, after he was sent off during last week's 3-2 to San Jose. Assistant coach John Spencer stepped in for the day, as Kinnear had to watch the game from the stands.
In the second half, D.C. quickly found a goal that was able to galvanize the small crowd of 12,594. D.C. United defender Bryan Namoff sent a long ball into the box, which Houston was unable to properly deal with. The ball then dropped into the path of Emilio, who then lifted the ball over an onrushing Onstad. The ball had just enough to get over Onstad, and was then able to drop into the goal, giving United the lead.
Houston than immediately began to apply pressure, looking for the equalizer right away. In the 52 minute, Houston had a corner, which was knocked around the box, before being put on target, only for Namoff to clear away near the goal line.
Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis, who scored last weekend against San Jose, had a couple of chances in the second half, one of which tested Crayton in the 60th minute. Crayton was able to deal with the shot, but Houston continued to pressure United, looking for the equalizer.
In the 65 minute, United brought on Jamie Moreno in place of striker Ange N'Silu, who had started for the first time this season for United. Six minutes later though, Moreno was right back off the pitch.
Davis had the ball in midfield, moving towards the United goal, when he was brought down from behind by Moreno. Referee Baldomero Toledo did not hesitate in reaching for his back pocket, and immediately sent off Moreno in the 71 minute. Moreno protested the call, by his arguments fell on deaf ears, as United would be forced to finish the match with ten men.
Houston then began to pile the pressure, as United brought on Greg Janicki for Ben Olsen in the 79th minute, and pulled back to a formation with four defenders, four midfielders, and Emilio alone up top.
One of the best opportunities fell again to Davis, whose sizzling shot from outside the box was pushed onto the bar by Crayton. With D.C. dropping further and further back to defend, Houston continued to send in crosses from the wings, all of which were either collected by Crayton, or missed headers from Houston.
Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden had a pair of good chances late on, but went just wide of the bar in the 85th minute from twenty yards out, and then had another shot in the 90th minute held by Crayton.
With time running out on their chances of finding an equalizer, Houston could not muster that one opportunity or break that would find them a goal that they were looking for, and after three minutes of stoppage time, Toledo signaled the end of the game. The final whistle then signaled D.C. United's first win of the season, and condemmed Houston to just one point from their first three games.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
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