Game recap courtesy of Dynamo Theory.
After 81 minutes of missing chances, the Dynamo finally got the goal they needed to break the tie. Just minutes after entering the match in place of Will Bruin, Koke cleaned up a rebound left off a Greg Sutton save and netted his first career MLS goal. Then the dreaded lack of concentration moment that seems to haunt this team struck, as the Red Bulls equalized in stoppage time. Another disappointing home result in which Houston struggled to finish their chances on goal.
Of course, considering how the match started, a draw might of been acceptable.
The rapture didn't come on Saturday evening but Dane "The Dynamo Killer" Richards did show up and wasted little time fulfilling his prophetic statement made to MLSSoccer.com during the week.
"If I get the chance to quiet that crowd, I will" Richards said.
Just 39 seconds in to the first half after Luke Rodgers brought down a Teemu Tainio long ball, he fed a charging Richards who fired a shot far post past a diving Tally Hall. I really doubt you could have come up with a worse start for Houston. It certainly deflated the big home crowd, which is exactly what Richards said he wanted to do earlier in the week.
In 2008, Richards dominated the second leg of the MLS Cup Playoffs series against the Dynamo, scoring and assisting on a goal, along with drawing a penalty in the Red Bulls' shocking 3-0 victory.
The Dynamo would answer back in the 12th minute. Will Bruin drew a penalty after a long ball found him in space down the left wing. Bruin made a nice cut in the box and was taken down by a very clumsy challenge from Rafa Marquez. No question who would take the PK as Brad Davis stepped up and buried a shot low and the right.
Second half featured a lot of good chances for both teams and a thoroughly entertaining battle between Corey Ashe and Dane Richards who appeared to be having a "who's the fastest man in the stadium" contest. If not for Koke, there's no doubt that Geoff Cameron would of been having nightmares tonight after he botched a first touch in the box and completely whiffed on a point blank shot.
The Dynamo still are not effectively finishing their chances at the rate you'd like to see, but a point is a point I suppose. Giving up a lead in stoppage time though always leaves a bad taste in your mouth but it doesn't completely erase the positives of getting a draw against a tough opponent.