The Houston Dynamo earned their second consecutive road point with a 1-1 tie Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls in Harrison, N.J. Goalkeeper Tally Hall made nine saves, his career high in league play, and earned an assist on Cam Weaver’s game-tying goal. The Dynamo remain unbeaten in their last five road games (2-0-3), dating back to September 25, 2010.
The Dynamo return to action this Wednesday, April 6, facing Sporting Kansas City in a U.S. Open Cup qualifying match at Texas A&M University. The club’s second ever match at the Aggie Soccer Stadium in College Station will kick off at 7 p.m.
Houston is next in MLS action on Sunday, April 10, hosting the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps at Robertson Stadium at 6 p.m. in the first of back-to-back home games. The Dynamo are also home on Sunday, April 17, against the New England Revolution.
On Saturday night, Houston controlled large portions of the first half and had two good chances to take the lead. In the 10th minute, Geoff Cameron’s near-post one-timer was saved by Bouna Conudoul, and in the 24th minute, Cameron set up Brian Ching, but Ching’s left-footed volley hit the crossbar.
Dynamo captain Brian Ching left the game in the 39th minute with a rib injury and will be evaluated further in Houston.
Neither team broke through on the scoreboard until just after halftime. Former Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, traded yesterday from Toronto to New York, entered the game and played a long through ball for midfielder Dane Richards. Once in the penalty area, Richards won the ball and fired a right-footed shot past Tally Hall to give New York the lead.
Houston came right back just three minutes later. Tally Hall sent a long goal kick up field, and rookie Will Bruin flicked a header behind the New York back line. Cam Weaver, who entered the game as a replacement for Ching, reached the ball at the edge of the box and deftly chipped a right-footed shot over Red Bulls goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. The goal was Weaver’s first of the season, and both Bruin and Hall were credited with their first career assists on the play.
The Dynamo held out for the tie thanks in part to Hall, who made several spectacular stops down the stretch. His biggest saves were a dive to deny a point-blank opportunity from Thierry Henry, a late Henry header that Hall tipped over the crossbar, and a 93rd-minute scramble he clawed away from Luke Rodgers. Hall’s nine saves are a career high in league play, surpassing his seven stops made on August 8, 2010 against Seattle.
Houston Dynamo Academy midfielder Alex Dixon (Humble, Texas) made his professional debut as a substitute, coming on in the 73rd minute to replace Will Bruin. Dixon becomes the third Dynamo Academy player to see MLS action with the first team.
For the Dynamo, midfielder Brad Davis made the 225th appearance of his MLS career and wore the captain’s armband in the second half. Defender Bobby Boswell made his 165th career MLS start, and midfielder Geoff Cameron made his 75th career start for the Dynamo in all competitions, 55 of them in league play.
The Dynamo played without forward Calen Carr (concussion); midfielders Colin Clark (knee) and Francisco Navas Cobo (hamstring); and defender Jermaine Taylor (foot sprain).
Next
Match: Wednesday, April 6, 7 p.m., Dynamo vs. Sporting Kansas City, Aggie
Soccer Stadium, College Station TX (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifier)
Next
Match in Houston: Sunday, April 10, 6 p.m., Dynamo vs. Vancouver Whitecaps,
Robertson Stadium
