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No Goals In Bitter Houston v New York Match
The two sides hardly managed any attacks on goal, but they had plenty for each other.
Apr 12, 2009 1:22:48 AM
In a tough and chippy game that gave up no goals but plenty of cards, Houston and New York battled to a split of the points.
The bad blood between the two squads started even before kickoff. Though the Dynamo were the regular season squad with top points in the Western Conference, the Red Bulls managed to eliminate the two-time MLS champions in the first round of the playoffs, cutting short Houston's dream of an unprecedented three-peat.
The Dynamo players hadn't forgotten. More importantly, Houston was also looking to turn around a slow start to the season. The Dynamo only had a single point to show for three games of action.
The Red Bulls hadn't fared any better. The MLS Cup runner-ups last year also claimed a solitary point for 2009 as they faced off against the Dynamo.
Thus, motivation was not an issue for either team. Both were hungry and unwilling to let any mistake allow their opponent an advantage.
However, it looked like Houston gained an early edge when starting goalkeeper Danny Cepero went down in the 8th minute and had to leave the game with an injury.
Alec Duffy had to be called into action, as New York's Jon Conway, the primary goalkeeper for the 2008 season, is still serving a multiple-game suspension from last year. Duffy had never before played a minute of MLS game action.
Yet though they were playing on their home field of Robertson Stadium, the Dynamo could not break through and take advantage of the new goalkeeper's nerves.
New York, however, was also stymied in their attempts to score. Veteran goalkeeper Pat Onstad is the oldest player in the league, but he is still a very effective shot-stopper, and he turned away all of New York's attempts.
Though three yellow cards were handed out for tackles inthe first half, the frustrations and fouls ratcheted up in the second half, as both teams were unable to break through for a goal.
In fact, each side only managed a single shot in the entire half. New York's came early on, as Jorge Rojas shot high in the 47th minute.
Brian Ching was on target for Houston in their single shot, which didn't arrive until the 87th minute.
At that point, the first red card of the the match had already come and gone. Costa Rican Carlos Johnson was battling for a ball against Houston's Geoff Cameron, and undercut Cameron while the player was airborne, causing a heavy and dangerous fall. Johnson was immediately shown a red for violent conduct.
Yet the game still had another red, this time to Mike Chabala, making his MLS debut, in extra time for serious foul play in a move against Danleigh Borman.
Referee Hilario Grajeda finally blew the whistle, leaving the two teams to divide up the spoils of the bitter duel.
Andrea Canales, Goal.com
Go to Goal.com's MLS section for all the latest on the U.S. game.
The bad blood between the two squads started even before kickoff. Though the Dynamo were the regular season squad with top points in the Western Conference, the Red Bulls managed to eliminate the two-time MLS champions in the first round of the playoffs, cutting short Houston's dream of an unprecedented three-peat.
The Dynamo players hadn't forgotten. More importantly, Houston was also looking to turn around a slow start to the season. The Dynamo only had a single point to show for three games of action.
The Red Bulls hadn't fared any better. The MLS Cup runner-ups last year also claimed a solitary point for 2009 as they faced off against the Dynamo.
Thus, motivation was not an issue for either team. Both were hungry and unwilling to let any mistake allow their opponent an advantage.
However, it looked like Houston gained an early edge when starting goalkeeper Danny Cepero went down in the 8th minute and had to leave the game with an injury.
Alec Duffy had to be called into action, as New York's Jon Conway, the primary goalkeeper for the 2008 season, is still serving a multiple-game suspension from last year. Duffy had never before played a minute of MLS game action.
Yet though they were playing on their home field of Robertson Stadium, the Dynamo could not break through and take advantage of the new goalkeeper's nerves.
New York, however, was also stymied in their attempts to score. Veteran goalkeeper Pat Onstad is the oldest player in the league, but he is still a very effective shot-stopper, and he turned away all of New York's attempts.
Though three yellow cards were handed out for tackles inthe first half, the frustrations and fouls ratcheted up in the second half, as both teams were unable to break through for a goal.
In fact, each side only managed a single shot in the entire half. New York's came early on, as Jorge Rojas shot high in the 47th minute.
Brian Ching was on target for Houston in their single shot, which didn't arrive until the 87th minute.
At that point, the first red card of the the match had already come and gone. Costa Rican Carlos Johnson was battling for a ball against Houston's Geoff Cameron, and undercut Cameron while the player was airborne, causing a heavy and dangerous fall. Johnson was immediately shown a red for violent conduct.
Yet the game still had another red, this time to Mike Chabala, making his MLS debut, in extra time for serious foul play in a move against Danleigh Borman.
Referee Hilario Grajeda finally blew the whistle, leaving the two teams to divide up the spoils of the bitter duel.
Andrea Canales, Goal.com
Go to Goal.com's MLS section for all the latest on the U.S. game.
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