Justin Braun scored a brace and Chivas USA got their first ever win at Robertson Stadium on Tuesday, as the Goats beat the Dynamo 3-1, reaching the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time in club history.
Houston continued to use their full roster during the Open Cup, as Sammy Appiah, Francisco Navas Cobo, and Adrian Serioux, among others, were handed starts. Chivas USA, meanwhile, started eight players who played against Philadelphia last weekend. And the difference in the crispness of passing and composure on the ball was apparent early between the two sides.
After failing to win in their last 11 matches against Houston and never before winning at Robertson Stadium, Chivas USA were intent on bucking both trends. The Dynamo failed to match the Goats’ intensity early.
In the fifth minute, a Ryan Cochrane foul set up a Chivas set piece about 40 yards from goal. Mariano Trujillo sent in a curling ball into the box, and Adrian Serioux lost Braun, whose header gave Chivas USA a 1-0 lead and their second-ever lead at Robertson.
Houston’s only chance in the first half came from a Serioux header in the 28th minute, when Dominic Oduro’s one-on-one chance with Zach Thornton was kicked away by the big goalkeeper.
Chivas USA extended their lead in the 65th minute after Houston’s Joseph Ngwenya missed a chance to equalize. Ante Jazic’s pass split the Dynamo defense and found Michael Lahoud, who moved in on goal and finished the effort easily to give Chivas a 2-0 lead.
Houston got one back late as Ngwenya ripped an effort off teammate Oduro in the 86th minute. The Ghanaian tried to get out of the way, but the ball deflected off him and past Thornton to pull the Dynamo back within one.
But Houston’s celebrations were short-lived, as Braun split two defenders in the 90th minute and scored his second of the evening, ending Houston’s hopes of a comeback. Chivas USA move on to the semis and will take on the winner of Wednesday’s quarterfinal between the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders. Houston returns to MLS play against Columbus on Saturday.
Dwain Capodice is a contributor to MLSsoccer.com. Questions or comments can be sent via email to dwaincapodice@gmail.com.
Chivas USA vs. Houston Dynamo
July 06, 2010 –- Robertson Stadium, Houston TX
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup -- Quarterfinals
Scoring Summary:
CHV -- Justin Braun 1 (Mariano Trujillo 1) 5
CHV -- Michael Lahoud 1 (Ante Jazic 1) 65
HOU -- Dominic Oduro 1 (Joseph Ngwenya 1) 86
CHV -- Justin Braun 2 (unassisted) 90
Chivas USA -- Zach Thornton, Mariano Trujillo, Michael Umaña, Yamith
Cuesta, Ante Jazic (Carlos Borja 66),
Michael Lahoud, Marcelo Saragosa, Ben Zemanski, Blair Gavin (Dario Delgado 72),
Jesus Padilla (Gerson Mayen 77), Justin Braun.
Substitutes Not Used: Dan Kennedy, Chukwudi Chijindu, Jorge Flores, Osael Romero.
Houston Dynamo -- Tally Hall, Craig Waibel, Eddie Robinson, Ryan
Cochrane (Mike Chabala 35), Francisco Navas Cobo, Adrian Serioux, Richard
Mulrooney (Lovel Palmer 74), Joseph Ngwenya, Sammy Appiah (Danny Cruz 56),
Dominic Oduro, Cam Weaver.
Substitutes Not Used: Tyler Deric, Corey Ashe, Bobby Boswell, Brian Mullan.
Misconduct Summary:
HOU -- Eddie Robinson (caution; Reckless Tackle) 54
CHV -- Jesus Padilla (caution; Reckless Foul) 68
HOU -- Craig Waibel (caution; Reckless Foul) 93+
HOU -- Danny Cruz (caution; Dissent) 93+
CHV -- Gerson Mayen (caution; Reckless Foul) 93+
gameSumLabel">Referee: Daniel Fitzgerald
gameSumLabel">Referee's Assistants: Courtney Jackson; Arthur Odems
gameSumLabel">4th official: Ismail Elfath
gameSumLabel">Attendance: 1,097
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-87-degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
