HOUSTON - The Kansas City Wizards put an end to their two-game losing streak, and Houston Dynamo got another point, as the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw in a game marred by yellow cards and missed opportunities Saturday at Robertson Stadium.
Dynamo picked up a point on FC Dallas, who fell to D.C. United, but for the second consecutive game, they were unable to fully take advantage in extending their lead in the Western Conference. The Wizards ended a three-game road trip with one point at least, but they will stay put in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and fell farther behind New York, who defeated Chicago on Saturday night.
Despite coming into the game at the end of a road trip that saw losses in Chicago and Salt Lake, the Wizards started the better of the two teams. Eddie Johnson had the first shot of the game in the third minute, but Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad came off his line and denied Johnson's shot from the right side of the area.
Dynamo had a couple of early chances but neither troubled the Kansas City goal, as Joseph Ngwenya went well high from outside the area and Dwayne De Rosario missed to the right.
Yet as the half wore on, Dynamo were starting to combine better. In the 22nd minute, Brian Mullan got a pass from DeRosario, and Mullan let one go from the right corner of the area that went just outside the upper corner.
DeRosario then nearly put the Orange on the board in the 25th minute when he received a centering pass from Mullan, but his effort from the middle of the box went high.
Things started getting physical after that as referee Ramon Hernandez issued three cards in the span of five minutes. Joseph Ngwenya was tripped up from behind Jimmy Conrad in the 26th minute and laid on the ground for a minute wanting a card on Conrad, but when he got up, Ngwenya was shown yellow for dissent. Conrad, however, was booked in the 29th minute when he threw Ngwenya down from behind. In the 32nd minute, Houston's Richard Mulrooney was booked for a hard tackle.
Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman kept the game scoreless in the 40th minute after Ricardo Clark got a pass from Mullan in the middle of the box and headed it toward the upper corner. But Hartman made a diving save to his right.
As the first half crossed into stoppage time, the Wizards took the lead. Winning possession in midfield, the ball came to Michael Harrington, who released Scott Sealy in the left side of the area. Sealy raced toward the endline before driving a low centering pass toward the penalty spot, and Johnson slipped in just in front of a Houston defender to knock it home first-time.
Things heated up right as the second half started as Sealy made a hard tackle on Ryan Cochrane, sending the Dynamo defender crashing into the sideline advertising boards. When the officials got the teams separated after a brief skirmish, Johnson and Kurt Morsink were both booked. In the 50th minute, Houston's Patrick Ianni was issued a yellow card for pushing. In the 61st minute, Jack Jewsbury was also booked for holding Ricardo Clark.
Chasing the lead, Dynamo were pressing for the equalizer. Corey Ashe had a decent chance from the middle of penalty area in the 57th minute, but his shot went wide left. Four minutes later, Eddie Robinson sent a looping header toward goal, but it went right. Then in the 67th minute Clark was again saved by Hartman.
But the Orange finally broke through in the 69th minute. Picking up the ball well in his own half, De Rosario raced forward on the counter for nearly 60 yards. He then slid a perfect through ball between the Kansas City defenders for Ngwenya to run onto, and the Dynamo striker ripped a bullet past Hartman inside the right post to knot the score.
Dynamo nearly took the lead in the 77th minute when a Robinson header caused some anxious moments as it bounced around the area before it was finally corralled by Hartman.
Then the Wizards nearly grabbed the game-winner when Johnson was running free behind the Houston defense, nearly in alone on goal. But left back Wade Barrett came racing across to deflect the ball away just as the U.S. international was preparing to shoot right at the top of the area.
De Rosario had a great chance when he caught the Wizards defense napping, all alone behind everyone on a throw-in. But he cut off his angle going toward goal and his pull-back sailed all the way through the area. Then, minutes later, he had a good look at goal, but again Hartman made the save.
The Wizards had one final chance in the 86th minute, but Michael Harrington's bullet was stopped by Onstad. The Orange countered with a header by Chris Wondolowski in the 89th minute, but it went over the net, and both teams left the field soon after with a point apiece.
Jeremy Rakes is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
