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Houston Dynamo Downs Real Salt Lake 3-2
Brad Davis assisted two and scored a game winner to give Houston all three points over RSL.
Sep 20, 2009 10:32:36 PM
Set pieces are often a key on the narrow pitch at Robertson Stadium in Houston. For Houston’s 3-2 win against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, set pieces would indeed prove crucial. So would Brad Davis’ left foot, as the veteran midfielder registered two assists and the game winning goal on the night.
First Half
Houston came into the match with the potential for being tired as they had a mid-week encounter at Pachuca in CONCACAF Champions League action. Real Salt Lake was poised to come out aggressive as their playoff chances are looking less likely as the season winds down. However, Houston took the game to Real Salt Lake from the opening whistle.
In only the second minute, Davis delivered a free kick from 25 yards out that striker Brian Ching craftily put away. He was draped all around RSL defender Nat Borchers, who was turned away from the ball, but he somehow managed to just get his left toe on the ball, putting it past a bewildered Nick Rimando and into the net.
In the fourth minute, newly-acquired designated player Luis Landin nearly followed up with a blast from inside the penalty area. He carried the ball down the right of the field with little impediment, but his shot went straight to Rimando and out for a cross.
Just a minute later, however, Houston again struck pay dirt. The tally came off of another set piece, and again courtesy of Davis’ left foot. A corner kick was well driven into a crowded piece of real estate inside the six-yard area. Versatile midfielder Geoff Cameron put a boot to the ball and forced it past Rimando, who stood frozen on the play.
Real Salt Lake clawed back into the game in the 27th minute with exceptional teamwork through the center of the field. Midfielder Andy Williams delivered a ball to striker Pablo Campos, who was posted outside of the eighteen. Campos returned the favor with a sublime pass which Williams promptly put at the feet of captain Kyle Beckerman between and beyond the center backs. Beckerman easily slot the shot past Pat Onstadt to bring his team back within a goal.
Unfortunately for Real Salt Lake, disaster struck a few minutes later as defender Jamison Olave picked up his league-leading fourth red card. He came in with an aggressive tackle on Davis, and the late play was deemed to be ejection-worthy, putting Real Salt Lake at a man disadvantage.
However, Houston failed to capitalize on the man-advantage as they could not keep possession for the remainder of the half and seemed content for more direct play.
Second Half
Houston nearly pushed the advantage back to two early in the second stanza as Davis put a nice cross into Landin, but his redirect went straight into the arms of Rimando.
Once again Houston failed to spread out the field, and RSL didn’t appear to be operating at a man down for the first 20 minutes of the second half. They demonstrated this in the 61st minute. Campos managed to knock down the ball with a header and it found substitute striker Yura Movsisyan, who used nifty footwork to get a shot off which zoomed by Pat Onstad and into the left side of the net.
The equalizer gave the visitors some hope despite the man disadvantage, but it also seemed to wake up Houston. Shortly after the goal, Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear interviewed on the sideline for the Houston TV broadcast called his team out, “I don’t think our movement off the ball is good right now.”
Well, his team listened, as they dominated the possession over the last 25 minutes. They appeared more patient, and spread the field, requiring Salt Lake to chase.
In the 66th minute, Houston missed a golden opportunity as midfielder Stuart Holden got his foot on the ball at close range, but his twisting shot flicked over the bar.
About ten minutes later, several scrums occurred in a wild sequence in the RSL end. On two separate occasions a Dynamo player went down with an appeal for a penalty, but to no avail.
In the 80th minute, it appeared that Real Salt Lake was wearing down, as their legs were giving out from chasing the ball. They could only hope to hold on and preserve a draw, however, Davis made sure that didn’t happen. As he found the ball and open space from 25 yards out, he hit a laser-guided ball toward the right corner of the net, and an exhausted Rimando was unable to get to it in time.
Just a minute after the goal, Ching picked up a red card returning the teams to even strength, but Real Salt Lake appeared to have little gas in the tank. However, they saw several long balls find their way into the box, creating dangerous opportunities. However, they were unable to connect on any of them, and the Dynamo preserved the victory.
The loss drops Real Salt Lake to 9-10-7 and 34 points on the season, and dims their playoff hopes. They next play at FC Dallas. Houston moves to 43 points with a 12-8-7 record, good for best in the league. They next play Kansas City in league action in two weeks.
Randy Davis is the Salt Lake City correspondent for Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
First Half
Houston came into the match with the potential for being tired as they had a mid-week encounter at Pachuca in CONCACAF Champions League action. Real Salt Lake was poised to come out aggressive as their playoff chances are looking less likely as the season winds down. However, Houston took the game to Real Salt Lake from the opening whistle.
In only the second minute, Davis delivered a free kick from 25 yards out that striker Brian Ching craftily put away. He was draped all around RSL defender Nat Borchers, who was turned away from the ball, but he somehow managed to just get his left toe on the ball, putting it past a bewildered Nick Rimando and into the net.
In the fourth minute, newly-acquired designated player Luis Landin nearly followed up with a blast from inside the penalty area. He carried the ball down the right of the field with little impediment, but his shot went straight to Rimando and out for a cross.
Just a minute later, however, Houston again struck pay dirt. The tally came off of another set piece, and again courtesy of Davis’ left foot. A corner kick was well driven into a crowded piece of real estate inside the six-yard area. Versatile midfielder Geoff Cameron put a boot to the ball and forced it past Rimando, who stood frozen on the play.
Real Salt Lake clawed back into the game in the 27th minute with exceptional teamwork through the center of the field. Midfielder Andy Williams delivered a ball to striker Pablo Campos, who was posted outside of the eighteen. Campos returned the favor with a sublime pass which Williams promptly put at the feet of captain Kyle Beckerman between and beyond the center backs. Beckerman easily slot the shot past Pat Onstadt to bring his team back within a goal.
Unfortunately for Real Salt Lake, disaster struck a few minutes later as defender Jamison Olave picked up his league-leading fourth red card. He came in with an aggressive tackle on Davis, and the late play was deemed to be ejection-worthy, putting Real Salt Lake at a man disadvantage.
However, Houston failed to capitalize on the man-advantage as they could not keep possession for the remainder of the half and seemed content for more direct play.
Second Half
Houston nearly pushed the advantage back to two early in the second stanza as Davis put a nice cross into Landin, but his redirect went straight into the arms of Rimando.
Once again Houston failed to spread out the field, and RSL didn’t appear to be operating at a man down for the first 20 minutes of the second half. They demonstrated this in the 61st minute. Campos managed to knock down the ball with a header and it found substitute striker Yura Movsisyan, who used nifty footwork to get a shot off which zoomed by Pat Onstad and into the left side of the net.
The equalizer gave the visitors some hope despite the man disadvantage, but it also seemed to wake up Houston. Shortly after the goal, Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear interviewed on the sideline for the Houston TV broadcast called his team out, “I don’t think our movement off the ball is good right now.”
Well, his team listened, as they dominated the possession over the last 25 minutes. They appeared more patient, and spread the field, requiring Salt Lake to chase.
In the 66th minute, Houston missed a golden opportunity as midfielder Stuart Holden got his foot on the ball at close range, but his twisting shot flicked over the bar.
About ten minutes later, several scrums occurred in a wild sequence in the RSL end. On two separate occasions a Dynamo player went down with an appeal for a penalty, but to no avail.
In the 80th minute, it appeared that Real Salt Lake was wearing down, as their legs were giving out from chasing the ball. They could only hope to hold on and preserve a draw, however, Davis made sure that didn’t happen. As he found the ball and open space from 25 yards out, he hit a laser-guided ball toward the right corner of the net, and an exhausted Rimando was unable to get to it in time.
Just a minute after the goal, Ching picked up a red card returning the teams to even strength, but Real Salt Lake appeared to have little gas in the tank. However, they saw several long balls find their way into the box, creating dangerous opportunities. However, they were unable to connect on any of them, and the Dynamo preserved the victory.
The loss drops Real Salt Lake to 9-10-7 and 34 points on the season, and dims their playoff hopes. They next play at FC Dallas. Houston moves to 43 points with a 12-8-7 record, good for best in the league. They next play Kansas City in league action in two weeks.
Randy Davis is the Salt Lake City correspondent for Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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