The Houston Dynamo captured a precious point in CONCACAF Champions League Group 3 action, escaping with a 1-1 tie on a visit to Olimpia in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The two frontrunners remain tied atop the group with four points each and two matches to play. Only the group winner advances to the knockout round.
The Honduran side took an early lead on a low, diving header from Douglas Caetano in the 7th minute, which looped over goalkeeper Tyler Deric.
Dynamo forward Cam Weaver could have equalized with a golden opportunity in the 28th minute. But after holding off a defender in the box, he fired high from six yards out.
Five minutes after a controversial goal line stop by Houston's Andre Hainault, who replays showed may have used his hand on an Olimpia attempt on goal, the Dynamo found an equalizer in the 57th minute. Central defender Nathan Sturgis delivered a ball into the box and Adam Moffat headed the ball home from close range for the 1-1 equalizer.
Only moments later Sturgis would see red after a late challenge on an Olimpia player earned him a red card from Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez.
In stoppage time Olimpia struck the post, but 10-man Dynamo would hold on for the draw.
The Dynamo will resume Champions League action with a home match vs. C.D. FAS on September 20 at BBVA Compass Stadium.
C.D. Olimpia (1-0-1) vs. Houston Dynamo (1-0-1)
August 30, 2012 Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage
Scoring Summary:
OLI: Douglas Caetano 1 (Irvin Reyna 1) 7
HOU: Adam Moffat 1 (Nate Sturgis 2) 57
Houston Dynamo: Tyler Deric; Kofi Sarkodie, Nate Sturgis, Jermaine Taylor, Andre Hainault; Boniek Garcia, Adam Moffat, Luiz Camargo (Bobby Boswell 64); Je-Vaughn Watson, Cam Weaver (Will Bruin 84), Colin Clark (Macoumba Kandji 75)
Substitutes not used: Tally Hall, Brian Ownby, Josue Soto, Corey Ashe
C.D. Olimpia: Noel Valladares; Brayan Beckeles, Johnny Palacios, Fabio de Souza, Juan Carlos Garcia (Juan Mejia 70); Irvin Reyna, Sebastián Rosano (Carlos Mejía 64), Jose Escalante (Javier Arnaldo Portillo 45), Reynaldo Tilguath; Washington Bruschi, Douglas Caetano
Substitutes not used: Donis Escober, Alexander López, Roger Rojas, Jose Fonseca,
Misconduct Summary:
HOU: Andre Hainault (caution) 49
OLI: Sebastián Rosano (caution) 49
HOU: Colin Clark (caution) 54
OLI: Juan Carlos Garcia (caution) 60
HOU: Nathan Sturgis (ejection) 61
OLI: Carlos Mejía (caution) 67
HOU: Je-Vaughn Watson (caution) 75
OLI: Brayan Beckeles (caution) 80
Referee: Marco Rodrgiuez (Mexico)
Referee's Assistants: Marvin Torrentera, Marcos Quintero
4th Official: Fabricio Morales
Attendance: 3,465
