Just when it looked like the Dynamo were going to lose in Columbus after surrendering an early lead, captain Brian Ching earned a point for Houston with a late equalizer. Ching’s goal in the 81st minute was the final goal in a thrilling 2-2 draw between the Dynamo and Crew.
Playing their fifth consecutive road game to start the season, the Dynamo (2-1-2) held the Crew (2-3-1) scoreless in the first half and were able to strike first in the 59th minute. With Brad Davis still nursing a calf injury Adam Moffat took the corner kicks for Houston and picked out Will Bruin perfectly for the opener. The red hot Bruin met the corner with his head and looped his shot to the far post over Columbus keeper Andy Gruenebaum to put Houston in front.
The lead didn’t last long however as a normally solid backline for the Dynamo made a mess of things to allow Columbus to level in the 63rd. A long goal kick bounced into the Houston defense and Andre Hainault softly headed the ball sideways toward Geoff Cameron. Cameron tried to pass back to Tally Hall but hit it softly headed towards the goal. Hall attempted to head the ball away but it landed at the feet off Eddie Gaven. With the net open Gaven put his shot on net and a back tracking Hainault stabbed it in to give Columbus a goal.
Gaven again found the score sheet and put the home side in front with a Goal of the Week caliber strike in the 74th. A Columbus long ball from the left side was chested down at the top of the box by Aaron Schoenfeld. Gaven met it in stride off a bounce and blasted it into the top of the net from about 20 yards out. Hall had no chance at the laser from Gaven and the Dynamo looked doomed for defeat.
Enter the captain. With less than 10 minutes to play Andre Hainault sent a ball into the box looking for Ching. The ball was headed away by defender Chad Marshall but Bruin was able to control with his chest on the right side of the box. His second touch found Ching all alone on the back post and the Houston captain’s sliding left footed tied the game at 2.
Columbus nearly grabbed a winner in the 88th but the Houston defense stood tall. Hall denied a point blank header from Olman Vargas and somehow saved his left footed follow up with his face. The ball then fell to Schoenfeld whose header was saved off the line by Hainault. With the draw the Dynamo remain winless against Columbus dating back to August of 2008.
The Dynamo now have 8 points from the first 5 matches of their 7 match road trip. If you would have told most Dynamo fans before the season that they would finish the long opening trip with 8 points, they would have taken it. I know I would have. With 2 games left to finish the trip, any remaining points are icing on the cake and will go a long way to helping down the stretch when the Dynamo hope to pile up points in their new home. Next up for Houston is DC United who have been somewhat of a Jekyll and Hyde team this year. I’ll get more in depth on this match up later this week in my preview but it’s a match I’m looking forward to seeing.
(image courtesy of houstondynamo.com)
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