The Houston Dynamo were eliminated from SuperLiga in the semifinals Thursday night, falling 1-0 to Monarcas Morelia at Robertson Stadium. Morelia advanced to the SuperLiga championship game against the New England Revolution later this month.
The Dynamo will face a quick turnaround with a Sunday road game against the Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field in Seattle, with their third match in nine days kicking off at 10 p.m. CT. Houston is 3-3-5 while playing 11 games in 41 days following the Major League Soccer break for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The physical match featured 36 fouls, six yellow cards, and a red card. Morelia’s Adrian Aldrete was ejected in second half stoppage time for a second yellow card.
The game-winning goal came shortly after halftime, as Morelia forward Miguel Sabah played a one-two with Rafael Marquez Lugo, who chipped a pass into the penalty area. Sabah continued his run and reached the ball just before Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall, lobbing the ball over the netminder and into the net after the bounce eluded Houston’s Bobby Boswell.
The Dynamo had several great chances to tie the game in the final minutes, but a 20-yard free kick by Corey Ashe was blocked at the top of the box, and a shot from Lovel Palmer inside the penalty area was deflected just wide.
The Dynamo dropped to 1-4 in international semifinals, including both Champions’ Cup and SuperLiga games. The loss was only Houston’s second in 13 all-time SuperLiga matches (7-2-4), both by 1-0 margins at home. The other loss came on July 15, 2008, against Chivas de Guadalajara. Houston is now 6-4-3 all-time at home against Mexican teams in competition.
The best news on the night for Houston was a substitute appearance by Geoff Cameron less than four months after he ruptured his right PCL against the Chicago Fire on April 24. Initially ruled out for the season, Cameron earned an ovation from the Houston crowd on his entrance Thursday night.
Houston played without goalkeeper Pat Onstad (abdominal strain); defender Adrian Serioux (hamstring); midfielder Danny Cruz (suspension); and forward Joseph Ngwenya (suspension).
Forward Brian Ching made his 135th career appearance for the Dynamo, and defender Bobby Boswell made his 105th. Midfielder Corey Ashe made the 60th start of his professional career.
Next Game: Sunday, August 8, 10 p.m. CT, Dynamo at Seattle Sounders, Qwest Field, Seattle WA
Next Home Game: Saturday, August 21, 7:30 p.m., Dynamo vs. Chicago Fire, Robertson Stadium
