Dynamo Finally Allow Goal In 1-1 Draw With Red Bulls

In a rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals, Houston and New York battled to a thrilling 1-1 draw.

May 16, 2009 10:33:55 PM

More On : Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls

New York Red Bulls 1-1 Houston Dynamo

It had been quite a while since the Houston Dynamo had given up a goal, a streak they hoped to continue through their game with the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.

They made it late into the match, but the pesky Red Bulls were able to claw their way back and finally put one on the board in the 88th minute to tie things up in a contest that ended 1-1.

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First Half

Houston came out the aggressor in this match, seemingly intent on extending their winning streak to four matches.

Things started quickly as the first chance of the match was a golden one. Off of a corner from the right side, Bobby Boswell got free and connected cleanly with the ball. His header should have been much better from his forward position and because of it, the ball sailed over the bar. Regardless of the missed chance, it was a good start for the Dynamo.

Houston kept up the pressure in the 14th minute as talented winger Bryan Mullan had the ball played to him in space down the right. Instead of going with the typical lofted cross, Mullan went along the turf with it. The ball eluded the Dynamo forwards, but also the Red Bulls defenders and goalkeeper Jon Conway. Very dangerous chance for the Dynamo.

It wasn’t until the 18th minute when the game had a real solid chance on net, one that required the goalie to try for the save. Houston won a free kick outside the area to the left of the goal. Played in to the box, Geoff Cameron got his head on the ball and put a perfect header on net from about 10 yards out. Conway, playing in his first game of the season, stretched with his right hand and made a world class save on the driven header.

New York finally got something going in the 25th when the ball was played to Macoumba Kandji in the box and the young striker took it wide right and fired on net, forcing a strong save out of veteran keeper Pat Onstad.

The Dynamo didn’t take long to answer as they won a corner a shot time later and their frustrations continued as the ball literally bounced around the six-yard box until it finally fell into Jon Conway’s hands.

Things got a bit testy in the 35th minute as some tight marking by Brian Mullan down the wing on Red Bulls midfielder Jorge Rojas was taken the wrong way by Rojas. Unhappy with the blanket treatment he was receiving, Rojas went a bit nuts and sent a right elbow to the head of Mullan, who went down in a heap. Referee Baldomero Toledo was right there and issued a straight red to Rojas for his violent play.

The domination by Houston kept up the remainder of the half, as they went as far as to have a goal disallowed due to a previous foul. Even though it wasn’t allowed, Juan Carlos Osorio didn’t look pleased with his side’s effort in the first 45 minutes.

Second Half

The second stanza started with a bit more of a subdued disposition compared to it’s respective twin. The teams looked a bit lethargic and didn’t really get started until the 60th minute when Mullan again was part of the fray. Charging down the right, Mullan sent a low cross in on net, close to Ade Akinbiyi, who was thwarted by Jeff Goldthwaite who incepted the cross and put it out for a corner.

New York answered and despite having 10 men, put some pressure on the Dynamo. A tricky cross was sent in by Sinisa Uriparipovic who really changed Pat Onstad with the ball. Floating in the air for what seemed like a lifetime, the ball needed a strong tip by Onstad to keep it away from the oncoming Red Bulls forwards.

The ice was finally broken in the 78th minute as a beautiful cross by the Dynamo’s Corey Ashe was sent all the way across the box to Chris Wondolowski who hit it first time passed Jon Conway for the match’s opening goal.

It was obvious from the momentum in the match that the Red Bulls were down a man. Houston were dominating every facet of the game, with relative ease.

Jon Conway was tested again only minutes after he conceded the first goal of the night. Dynamo striker Stuart Holden took the ball at the edge of the box and sent a low hard shot on Conway who did well to parry it wide of the net.

Just when you thought it was all over, New York managed to muster some last-gasp heroics and were able to tie the match. After a corner was bounced around outside of the area and then back into the thick of things, super sub John Wolyniac was able to take the ball off his chest facing away from goal, took a touch to turn it around and then blasted it low Onstad. It was the first goal surrendered by Houston in 491 minutes of play.

The game ended shortly thereafter, and both sides should be relatively happy with the end result.

Houston continue it’s unbeaten run and will head home to take on the San Jose Earthquakes next weekend.

The Red Bulls head south to the nation’s capital next week for a date with the Eastern Conference leading D.C. United on Wednesday.

Shane Evans is an Associate Editor of Goal.com

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