MoffatMania will have to take the weekend off. Dynamo midfielder Adam Moffat will miss Saturday’s home match against Real Salt Lake after earning two yellow cards in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution. Moffat earned his first yellow card in the 79th minute for a reckless challenge on Shalrie Joseph, but confusion surrounded his second.
Moffat fouled Pat Phelan in the waning seconds while chasing a ball out of bounds. As the final whistle blew, Moffat’s challenge drew the ire of Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis and a confrontation ensued. While the discipline was not clear live, after the game it was confirmed that both Moffat and Reis earned an ejection for their actions.
“No. 16 Adam Moffat of Houston received a second caution for committing an act which, in the opinion of the referee, shows lack of respect for the game and was sent off for a second caution offense,” referee Michael Kennedy noted after the match.
From the referee’s comment, it is not clear if Moffat got the caution for the foul or the ensuing confrontation with Reis. What is clear is that Houston will have to replace Moffat — who has not seen defeat in his four starts for Houston — for a tough match against RSL.
Beating Matt Reis
Breaking through against Reis turned out to be a tall order for the Dynamo. Reis, who put together a standout six-save performance in a loss to Houston on April 17, once again brought his “A” game against the Dynamo, seemingly thwarting the visitor’s at every turn in the 1-1 draw.
Houston dominated possession and created a number of quality chances after going down a goal four minutes in. But despite nine shots on his goal by the Dynamo, Reis was equal to the task, making several spectacular saves highlighted by a point blank stop on a Geoff Cameron rocket.
“We're coming off of four games unbeaten, a couple wins, and tonight we should have won,” Cameron said. “We dominated the play, had more opportunities, but Matt [Reis] came up big, had some great saves, and luckily we put the ball in the back of the net.”
Taylor fits right in
With three games in seven days, Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear dipped into his bench on Wednesday against the Revs, making three changes to his starting lineup. Among the new faces was Jermaine Taylor at left back, and the Jamaican international impressed with his knack for providing service.
“He’s a good player and we’ve said since he got here that one of his best qualities is passing the ball,” Kinnear said. “His crosses tonight were pretty dangerous and precise.”
Carr debuts
Forward Calen Carr made his Dynamo debut in the 80th minute, coming on for Hunter Freeman to add to the attack. Carr has been out due to the lingering effects of a concussion suffered in the March.
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on
twitter at @Dynamoexaminer.
