Chapter Two of the Houston Dynamo -- FC Dallas rivalry wasn't quite as action-packed as last week's 4-3 win by the Dynamo on their home field, but Saturday afternoon's rematch at Pizza Hut Park, which ended in a 1-1 draw, had its share of drama.
The home team scored first with Carlos Ruiz finding the back of the net in the 19th minute. His fourth goal of the year and third in as many games came after a Ramon Nunez cross deflected off Houston defender Eddie Robinson where Ruiz was quickest to it.
Houston's chances for a positive result took a major hit when Dwayne De Rosario, the team's leading scorer in the absence of U.S. international Brian Ching, left the field after rolling his right ankle following a tackle by Nunez. Ryan Cochrane took his place at midfield for Dynamo.
"Anytime Dwayne is off the field, it hurts the team," said midfielder Brian Mullan. "He's a great, creative player and he consumes a lot of the defense. We have a very good team and a very deep team.
"Adrian (Serioux) steps up and Ricardo (Clark) in the middle and they're great players too," he added. "They create a lot. They just have to get used to those positions, build their confidence and get back in the game."
Down 1-0 at halftime, Dynamo looked like a team waiting for their chance. They had just two shots, both coming from Mullan, in the first 26 minutes of the second half. Both teams were slowed a bit by the Texas heat, which was measured at over 90 degrees, which Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear said was a factor.
"It was hard, it was hot," he said. "There weren't too many chances. Last balls played on both sides were a bit missing."
However, everything changed for the visitors in the 81st minute. Ronald Cerritos sent a corner toward the back post, where Robinson was waiting. He had slipped in behind Clarence Goodson and challenged for a header, which instead caromed off Goodson's head and went past FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala for the equalizer.
"I was proud of the way the guys fought back," Kinnear said. "After they scored, we didn't give them much after that. We were kind of creeping our way back into the game in the second half. I felt maybe something might happen. Fortunately for us, Eddie had to hit somebody for it to go in. Sometimes you have luck. It's a great point."
Mullan also noticed the fight that his team showed on a hot Texas afternoon.
"We put in a ton of work," Mullan said. "We had a ton of chances but just couldn't capitalize on them. To get one lucky chance and score, it shows a lot for the team's heart to come back and get that goal in the 81st minute. That was a great goal by Eddie.
"It was incredibly hot and that's a gigantic field. It's a great win for us to pull that point out with the weather."
This week's game was a far cry from last week's seven-goal shootout in Houston.
"I think you knew this one was going to be different," Kinnear said. "It was an emotional game for both teams last Saturday. To replicate that game last week would be hard, especially considering the circumstances with weather and different personnel.
"Every week is different. Different people do different things in different weeks. You can approach the game exactly the same, but the outcome is rarely the same."
Dynamo goaltender Pat Onstad was happy to head home with the tie and one point.
"I think we came into the game hoping for three points to try to leapfrog them (in the standings)," he said. "It wasn't to be. I think the way we played in the first half, we were certainly deserving to be down a goal. To come out, play pretty well and battle back in the second half is a good result for us on the road."
Onstad also likes how the emerging rivalry between the two teams is shaping up.
"When you have two teams that feel they are two of the better teams in the Western Conference, that is always going to be a battle," he said. "That's nice to see. The fact that we're now in the same state also adds to it."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
