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Ching Nets Late Houston Equalizer In 1-1 Draw With RSL
Real Salt Lake was unable to hold off the Houston Dynamo after being down a man for 30 minutes.
Jun 21, 2009 1:53:01 AM
After beating Los Angeles last week to end their ten game unbeaten streak, Real Salt Lake appeared set to be a streak-buster again. The Houston Dynamo hadn't lost in 10 games, but RSL led 1-0 late in the game thanks to a first half goal by forward Fabian Espindola. Hopes of holding on to the three points came to an end in the 89th minute when forward Brian Ching found himself alone in front of the goal and put away the equalizer.
First Half
The usual feeling out process seemed condensed in this match, as the action picked up fairly early on. First, Real Salt Lake created a chance when a ball over the top was headed on to forward Yura Movsisyan. He let it bounce and then headed it forward into space, running onto himself but his shot sailed high.
An unusually early substitution occurred in the 9th minute, when Wade Barrett came on in favor of Craig Waibel, who appeared to pick up an injury.
Shortly after the substitution, Houston created its first good chance with some great combination play along the left wing. A final ball delivered into wide open space for forward Kei Kamara appeared to set him clear. However, RSL defender Jamison Olave showed a tremendous burst of speed and managed to just tip the ball.
The scoring opened in the 27th minute when defender Chris Wingert delivered a low hard ball into the area. Movsisyan knocked it down and the ball popped forward. Movsisyan got to it first and made a nifty back-heel pass to Espindola, who hit a shot that appeared to be going wide, but it deflected off of the knee of defender Bobby Boswell and into the net.
Houston managed to create numerous set piece changes throughout the half. However, the team was unable to capitalize.
There were two unusual things that occurred in the first half. First, both team captains, RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman and Houston defender Richard Mulrooney, agreed before the match to take a water break in the middle of the first half. When the official stopped play and allowed the break midway through the first half, both teams coaches appeared shocked and did not seem privy to the agreement. With the humidity in Houston typically tough on visiting teams, this appears to have favored Real Salt Lake.
Second, at the end of the half, Real Salt Lake earned a free kick deep in its own end. It appeared that Wingert set the ball, and then kicked it back to keeper Nick Rimando. Rimando, thinking that Wingert was giving him the ball to take the free kick, picked it up and brought it up to the spot of the foul. Houston players began immediately calling for a back pass, but the referee didn’t see it that way.
Second Half
The half opened with Houston forward Brian Ching taking the field in place of Cam Weaver. The substitution made sense because of Ching’s aerial prowess, and the hosts' inability to take advantage of dangerous free kicks in the first half. The switch would end up providing enormous dividends.
In the 52nd minute a great chance developed for the Dynamo as Brian Mullan squirmed behind Tony Beltran on the right edge of the box. He delivered a pass back to the on-racing Stuart Holden, but the youngster hit his shot to the left of goal.
A minute later, Beckerman tried to clear a ball out of the box but hit it first with his plant foot. Kei Kamara picked up the muffed clearance and blasted a shot that was knocked wide of the net by Rimando.
The first dividend that the Ching substitution provided came in the 58th minute as Olave and Ching had a confrontation after the ball went out of bounds. Following a brief argument between the two players, Olave picked up his second yellow of the match for arguing with the referee and earned an ejection.
Real Salt Lake was unable to maintain possession and was forced to defend over the entire remaining 30 minutes. It seemed unlikely, but the visitors managed to hold off the Dynamo’s numerous chances up until the 89th minute. That’s when a switch of the ball found Mullan wide open on the right side of the area. He had lost his marker and was able to get off a cross. The ball found a wide-open Ching who was unmarked near the penalty spot and easily put it away.
The draw ended up being a disappointment for Real Salt Lake, who would have cherished the thought coming into the match. The Lakers move to 4-6-4 and 16 points on the season and face Toronto FC at home next week.
Houston moves to 8-2-4 for 28 points, and ahead of Chivas for first place in the Western Conference. The Los Angeles Galaxy will be the next team charged with stopping the Dynamo's eleven match unbeaten streak.
Randy Davis covers Real Salt Lake for Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer visit Goal.com's MLS page.
First Half
The usual feeling out process seemed condensed in this match, as the action picked up fairly early on. First, Real Salt Lake created a chance when a ball over the top was headed on to forward Yura Movsisyan. He let it bounce and then headed it forward into space, running onto himself but his shot sailed high.
An unusually early substitution occurred in the 9th minute, when Wade Barrett came on in favor of Craig Waibel, who appeared to pick up an injury.
Shortly after the substitution, Houston created its first good chance with some great combination play along the left wing. A final ball delivered into wide open space for forward Kei Kamara appeared to set him clear. However, RSL defender Jamison Olave showed a tremendous burst of speed and managed to just tip the ball.
The scoring opened in the 27th minute when defender Chris Wingert delivered a low hard ball into the area. Movsisyan knocked it down and the ball popped forward. Movsisyan got to it first and made a nifty back-heel pass to Espindola, who hit a shot that appeared to be going wide, but it deflected off of the knee of defender Bobby Boswell and into the net.
Houston managed to create numerous set piece changes throughout the half. However, the team was unable to capitalize.
There were two unusual things that occurred in the first half. First, both team captains, RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman and Houston defender Richard Mulrooney, agreed before the match to take a water break in the middle of the first half. When the official stopped play and allowed the break midway through the first half, both teams coaches appeared shocked and did not seem privy to the agreement. With the humidity in Houston typically tough on visiting teams, this appears to have favored Real Salt Lake.
Second, at the end of the half, Real Salt Lake earned a free kick deep in its own end. It appeared that Wingert set the ball, and then kicked it back to keeper Nick Rimando. Rimando, thinking that Wingert was giving him the ball to take the free kick, picked it up and brought it up to the spot of the foul. Houston players began immediately calling for a back pass, but the referee didn’t see it that way.
Second Half
The half opened with Houston forward Brian Ching taking the field in place of Cam Weaver. The substitution made sense because of Ching’s aerial prowess, and the hosts' inability to take advantage of dangerous free kicks in the first half. The switch would end up providing enormous dividends.
In the 52nd minute a great chance developed for the Dynamo as Brian Mullan squirmed behind Tony Beltran on the right edge of the box. He delivered a pass back to the on-racing Stuart Holden, but the youngster hit his shot to the left of goal.
A minute later, Beckerman tried to clear a ball out of the box but hit it first with his plant foot. Kei Kamara picked up the muffed clearance and blasted a shot that was knocked wide of the net by Rimando.
The first dividend that the Ching substitution provided came in the 58th minute as Olave and Ching had a confrontation after the ball went out of bounds. Following a brief argument between the two players, Olave picked up his second yellow of the match for arguing with the referee and earned an ejection.
Real Salt Lake was unable to maintain possession and was forced to defend over the entire remaining 30 minutes. It seemed unlikely, but the visitors managed to hold off the Dynamo’s numerous chances up until the 89th minute. That’s when a switch of the ball found Mullan wide open on the right side of the area. He had lost his marker and was able to get off a cross. The ball found a wide-open Ching who was unmarked near the penalty spot and easily put it away.
The draw ended up being a disappointment for Real Salt Lake, who would have cherished the thought coming into the match. The Lakers move to 4-6-4 and 16 points on the season and face Toronto FC at home next week.
Houston moves to 8-2-4 for 28 points, and ahead of Chivas for first place in the Western Conference. The Los Angeles Galaxy will be the next team charged with stopping the Dynamo's eleven match unbeaten streak.
Randy Davis covers Real Salt Lake for Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer visit Goal.com's MLS page.
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