Houston Dynamo was left on the verge of clinching home-field advantage for the MLS Cup Playoffs after playing to a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Paul Dalglish's goal in the 20th minute gave Dynamo a lead that nearly stood up, until rookie Mehdi Ballouchy hit for the equalizer on the hour mark.
The result left Houston three points ahead of third-place Chivas USA heading into next week's season finale at home against the Colorado Rapids; RSL needs Houston to win and then to defeat Chivas USA in the final game of the year to secure a first-ever playoff spot.
Dalglish was pounding on the door early for Dynamo. In the ninth minute he spun and wiggled through four RSL defenders before poking a harmless shot at RSL goalkeeper Scott Garlick.
Five minutes later Dalglish nearly beat Garlick near the top of the penalty area. He flicked a slowly bouncing ball that looked just out of reach of the 'keeper -- who was moving the opposite direction. Yet Garlick was able to reach back, pounce and smother the shot before it reached the goal.
The Scotland native finally put Houston in the lead, scoring his first MLS goal on a blast in the 20th minute. Ricardo Clark played a ball splitting the RSL back line, Dalglish spun off marker Jack Stewart and belted a low shot that beat Garlick inside the near post.
With the lead, Dynamo stormed the Salt Lake goal with renewed confidence. Just two minutes after Dalglish's goal, Brian Mullan sent a laser beam of a shot right at Garlick.
Dynamo captain Wade Barrett kept the Houston shutout intact in the 25th minute. A Jeff Cunningham header was on its way towards goal before Barrett leaped off the goal line to direct the ball off the underside of the crossbar and out.
The Clark-Dalglish combination was working again in the 32nd minute. Clark set Dalglish loose behind the Salt Lake defense with a perfect ball, but this time Dalglish was stopped by Garlick.
However, after intermission the Dynamo defense was nearly penetrated. Carey Talley drove a header on goal that was blocked by his own teammate Jeff Cunningham. The Salt Lake striker spun and fired from the just inside the six-yard box; luckily, Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad was in position to deflect the shot out of play.
Brian Ching missed an open header from 10 yards that could have easily doubled the visitors' lead. A cross into the area fell to Ching as the RSL defense all backed off the play. Ching didn't get enough on his header and sent the ball wide of the far post.
Just after the missed chance from Ching, the hosts brought the score level on a goal from Ballouchy. The first-year professional had come off the bench moments before and drilled home a ball laid off by Cunningham from 20 yards out, sending the large home crowd into a frenzy.
Salt Lake had a chance to finish the comeback in the 70th minute. Jason Kreis sent a free kick diagonally through the area, but it was a half step in front of a sliding Cunningham.
In stoppage time, second-half substitute Kevin Goldthwaite had a chance to regain the lead for Dynamo. He was in position for a low cross with lots of space on the back post, but his stretching effort was not able to get to the ball.
Scott McAllister is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
