Facing a disappointing defeat after playing the final 55 minutes down a man, veteran John Wolyniec struck for the dramatic equalizer for the New York Red Bulls two minutes from full time to forge a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo Saturday night at Giants Stadium.
It was the second time this season the New York Red Bulls had a player sent off against Houston Dynamo. But unlike the first heated meeting at Robertson Stadium last month, the Red Bulls were punished for it.
Second-half substitute Chris Wondolowski tapped in a low cross by Corey Ashe at the far post for the game's opening goal in the 78th minute and it appeared Dynamo would take all three points.
But Wolyniec, who has made a career of scoring clutch goals, struck again. He took a lofted ball from Dane Richards off his chest, turned and fired the ball past Pat Onstad from the edge of the six-yard box. It was his first MLS regular season goal since scoring the winner in a 1-0 win against D.C. United on July 22, 2007.
The Red Bulls were forced to play the final 55 minutes with 10 men after a reckless elbow by Jorge Rojas resulted in a 35th-minute sending off. Referee Baldomero Toledo didn't hesitate, showing a straight red card for an elbow to Brian Mullan's head by the midfield touchline.
Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio only made one change from the team that thrashed the San Jose Earthquakes 4-1 last Friday and it was in net with Conway replacing Danny Cepero. The Red Bulls coach was forced to make his first change in the 26th minute when Carlos Johnson limped off the field with a sprained left foot and rookie Jeremy Hall entered the match.
The lone change for the Dynamo in their starting XI was up front with Ade Akinbiyi starting for Brian Ching, who sat out with right hamstring tightness.
Houston had the first scoring chance of the game in the 18th minute when Geoff Cameron latched onto Davis' free kick and forced Conway to make a lunging save, parrying the attempt away with his left paw.
In the 25th minute, Mac Kandji, the reigning MLS Player of the Week, had a step on Cameron and ran into the box, but Onstad got a piece of the attempt, which landed in the outside netting for a corner kick.
In the 33rd minute, Houston nearly scored when Bobby Boswell headed Stuart Holden's corner back to goal and Cameron got a piece, forcing Conway to dive to the ground. Akinbiyi crashed the net, but was unable to knock the ball in.
Despite being a man down, the Red Bulls had two quality chances early in the second half, but Hall headed a corner kick over the bar in the 57th minute and Onstad backpedaled to push a Sinisa Ubiparipovic cross out for a corner kick.
Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear made his first change in the 67th minute, bringing Wondolowski on for Akinbiyi. Eight minutes later, Ashe came on for Mike Chabala.
One minute earlier, Richards came on for Albert Celades for Osorio's second change. In last year's second leg of the Western Conference Semifinal Series, Richards and Wolyniec combined for the final goal in a stunning 3-0 victory at Robertson Stadium. They did it again, this time at Giants Stadium, as the Red Bulls earned a share of the points thanks to Wolyniec's heroics.
The Red Bulls remain at home next weekend, taking on the Chicago Fire on Sunday afternoon, May 24, at Giants Stadium. The Dynamo return home for the first of back-to-back home games when they meet struggling San Jose at Robertson Stadium on Sat., May 23.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
