A week after surrendering five goals, Chivas USA held the defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo scoreless to earn a 0-0 tie at Robertson Stadium on Saturday night. The draw is the second of the year for Chivas and the fourth for Dynamo, and it ends Chivas' three-game winless streak.
Chivas ended the game a man down after Claudio Suarez was sent off in the 82nd minute. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan was the man of the match, making five saves, including a couple of game-savers after the Red-and-White were playing shorthanded.
Chivas USA and Houston entered the match as the top two teams in fouls committed. Their physical style of play didn't change, as referee Jozef Batko issued eight yellow cards in addition to Suarez's ejection. The nine total cards matched the highest total in MLS this season, set in Chivas USA's game against the Columbus Crew on April 12.
The hard play also took a physical toll. Defender Lawson Vaughn had to leave the game with a broken nose being kicked in the face by Houston's Dwayne De Rosario while contesting a ball in the penalty area in the ninth minute.
Defender Shavar Thomas left the game in the second half with an apparent leg injury. Guzan was shaken up while punching out a Houston corner kick in the 84th minute, but remained in the net to finish out the game despite being in obvious pain.
The Chivas USA defense had allowed 13 goals in the first five games of the season, most in MLS. But the back line held in the despite the losses of Vaughn and Thomas and constant pressure from the Dynamo attack, preventing any of Houston's 10 shots from finding the back of the net.
The patchwork defense showed its mettle late in the second half, withstanding a late surge from Houston's offense. Guzan made two critical saves to preserve the tie, denying Brian Ching's attempt in the 86th minute and diving to corral a rocket from Corey Ashe in the 89th when he was all alone in front of goal.
On the offensive end of the field, forwards Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov started together for the first time since last season's Sept. 29 matchup against the Kansas City Wizards. Both had opportunities to score in the first half. Galindo had a good look in the 17th minute but missed just outside the far post and Razov sent a free kick through the Houston wall in the 24th minute that was saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad.
Other than those brief flashes, Chivas generated very little offensive pressure throughout the game. Chivas took six shots compared to Houston's 10 and only had one corner kick while surrendering six.
Suarez was shown red after a foul on Dynamo midfielder Brian Mullan. Mullan had a step on Suarez and was streaking towards the goal when Suarez lunged forward in an attempt to stop the attack, catching Mullan's foot instead of the ball.
Chivas USA will return to The Home Depot Center to face the New England Revolution next Sunday, May 11. Houston Dynamo will play host to the Colorado Rapids at Robertson Stadium next Saturday.
Lucas Ogden-Davis is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
