Houston Dynamo 1, Portland Timbers 1 | MLS Match Recap

HOUSTON – Two teams looking to break frustrating winless droughts will have to wait for another day for relief.

Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin and Portland Timbers striker Gaston Fernandez traded first-half goals before a sluggish final 45 minutes Sunday, as both teams continued to struggle to find early-season points in a 1-1 draw at steamy BBVA Compass Stadium.

The draw extends the current winless streak to six games for the Dynamo (2-3-2), while the Timbers (0-3-5) are one of just two winless teams left in Major League Soccer this season along with the Chicago Fire.

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Bruin found his scoring stroke in the 16^th minute, and it by no coincidence coincided with the return of Brad Davis. The US international came back from a three-game absence and played a perfect cross to Bruin in the box, and the wide-open Bruin headed the cross past Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts for his first goal in his past six games.

The goal also snapped a 334-minute scoreless streak for the Dynamo, who controlled the tempo in the first 30 minutes of the match also threatened with first-half chances from Davis, defender Corey Ashe, midfielder Boniek Garcia and defender Kofi Sarkodie, back from a one-game suspension.

But the Timbers countered in the 33^rd minute off the opportunistic foot of Fernandez. Midfielder Kalif Alhassan hit a pass into the Dynamo box that deflected off Davis and into the path of Fernandez, who wasted little movement hitting a first time effort into the upper-right corner to pull the Timbers level. The goal was the Argentine import’s third this season, but first since March 16.

Houston’s first scoring chance of the second half came right after the break, when striker Giles Barnes glanced a header wide of the post off a cross from Garcia. The hosts followed with a good look for Bruin in the 69^th minute that was snuffed out by a charging Ricketts, and late sub Mark Sherrod scuffed a chance from six yards out in the 90^th minute after midfielder Andrew Driver sliced into the Timbers penalty box and fed a pass in front of net.

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The game also featured a bit of an oddity in the 66^th minute, when Ricketts struggled with a Futty Danso back pass and handled the ball just inside the area. Referee David Ganter awarded the Dynamo an indirect free kick inside the box, but they were unable to capitalize, a fitting moment on a day when neither team appeared quite ready to break free from their current slumps.

Both teams are back in action on May 3, when the Dynamo take on Chivas USA at the StubHub Center, while the Timbers host suddenly surging D.C. United.

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