FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Houston Dynamo earned a share of the points through a late Ryan Cochrane equalizer in a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston opened the scoring in the 55th minute from a Pat Noonan cross. But Cochrane earned his side a point with an effort that deflected off of Shalrie Joseph and past Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis.
Dynamo dominated the opening half and wasted numerous chances to score before the Revolution improved after the break, leaving each side with one point for its troubles.
Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear pushed Wade Barrett up to the left side of midfield and handed a start to Kevin Goldthwaite at left back after Brad Davis was ruled out with a left MCL sprain. Revolution head coach Steve Nicol welcomed back Pat Noonan after he was deemed fit after recovering from a right hamstring strain.
It was almost a dream start for Dynamo as Barrett blasted over the bar from inside the six-yard box just two minutes into the contest. Ronald Cerritos sent his cross through the goal area to the unmarked Barrett, but he could not hit the target.
The home side lost starting left back James Riley to a right ankle injury in the 24th minute, forcing Revolution head coach Steve Nicol to shift from the 3-4-3 formation preferred this season back to a familiar 4-4-2.
Barrett nearly scored from the boot of Cerritos on 28 minutes after Cerritos's cross just missed Barrett's outstretched leg at the far post while Ricardo Clark took a Kevin Goldthwaite pass on the turn and unleashed a 25-yard drive that just missed the left post in the 31st minute.
Cerritos had the best chance of the first half after he latched on to a Brian Mullan pass that beat the Revolution backline to send him clear against Reis on 38 minutes. Cerritos tried to beat Matt Reis low and right, but his attempt was well wide of the right hand post.
Barrett against showed his attacking side in the 41st minute, turning Michael Parkhurst before unleashing a right-footed drive that substitute Jeff Larentowicz, sent on in place of Riley, deflected just over the bar.
It was Dwayne De Rosario's turn to spurn a chance in the 42nd minute. With Reis adrift from his line, De Rosario had the chance to find the open net, but his connection sent the ball back towards the right side of the field from whence it came rather than towards the net.
The first chance of the second stanza went to the Revolution and produced a fine save from Pat Onstad on 52 minutes. Joseph played Noonan down the left. Taylor Twellman did well to create space in the center of the box and Noonan's cross found him, but the shot forced a great save from Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad.
Onstad could not stop the game's first goal from Ralston three minutes later. Again, Noonan's cross was of the highest quality from the right to the far side of the goal area. The quality of the ball presented Ralston with the simplest of volley finishes from six yards.
Mullan attempted to reply for the visitors in the 68th minute, but his bouncing effort from a Goldthwaite cross just missed Reis's right hand post.
The equalizer came on 86 minutes thanks to a fortunate deflection off Joseph. Barrett's rolling cross found the unmarked Cochrane in the box. Cochrane's shot was headed towards goal but was deflected past Reis by Joseph to give Dynamo a share of the points.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
