Twice the Houston Dynamo led the Los Angeles Galaxy and twice the hosts came back as the two teams settled for a 2-2 draw at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.
Franco Caraccio scored his first MLS goal in the 79th minute but the Galaxy's Landon Donovan tied the game at 2-2 just five minutes later. Donovan's first goal of the match -- both were set up by David Beckham -- offset Brad Davis' first-half strike.
The Dynamo remained winless on the season as the two-time defending champs are now 0-1-3.
For Houston, the backline was the fourth different one the club has used in four games this season. The club's venerable trio of Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett and Bobby Boswell had been joined by Brian Mullan, Craig Waibel and Richard Mulrooney in games thus far this season. Robinson, though, served the first of a three-match ban handed to him for an incident in last week's match against Kansas City.
Boswell and Barrett started in the back along with Mulrooney and Patrick Ianni. The UCLA product earned his first start of the regular season and first minutes in league since the opening match of the season.
Houston gave away a free kick in the 13th minute some 27 yards out. Mulrooney clipped Edson Buddle and the packed crowd grew loud in anticipation of a Beckham free kick. Beckham's shot, though, slammed into the wall and the ball was cleared out of danger.
Caraccio had an attempt on an empty net in the 17th minute but was at an extreme angle. Caraccio beat Galaxy 'keeper Steve Cronin to a long ball but was running toward the end line near the corner of the penalty area when he latched onto the ball. He sent the ball toward the goal but it rolled harmlessly in front of a gaping goalmouth before the ball was cleared out of danger.
The Dynamo were awarded a free kick in the 25th minute when Galaxy left back Mike Randolph took down Mullan on the edge of the penalty area. Randolph was booked for the foul.
Brad Davis ripped the free kick off the crossbar as Dynamo nearly opened the score. The ball caromed off the woodwork and out of the penalty area.
Dwayne De Rosario darted into the penalty area two minutes later and tried to beat Cronin to the far post but the Galaxy 'keeper dove and pushed the ball across the end line. On the ensuing corner, Mulrooney sent the ball into a crowd but it was cleared out of harm's way.
Houston finally scored in the 36th minute as Davis got the goal. Mullan evaded Galaxy defender Sean Franklin on the right side and fired a cross to the far post. Caraccio headed the ball down to Brian Ching, but Ching fanned on his attempt. No matter. Davis was behind Ching and knocked the ball into the back of the net.
The goal was Davis' first of the season while Mullan and Caraccio picked up their first assists of the year. For Caraccio, the point was his first in a Dynamo uniform.
Barrett cleared a ball off the line in the 50th minute. Franklin sent a header to the far post and it skipped past the Dynamo's defense but Barrett was well-positioned to make the save.
Houston's Tony Caig came up with a brilliant save in the 52nd minute. Beckham sprinted down the right side and slipped a ball to the center of the area. Buddle ran onto it and slammed the ball on goal but Caig did well to dive and knock the ball out for a Galaxy corner kick. On the ensuing set piece, Caig dove and parried the ball away.
De Rosario again saved Houston. Beckham swung a free kick from the left side of the penalty area on goal. The ball went to the far post but De Rosario rose and headed the ball out of the area.
In the 57th minute, Galaxy defender Greg Vanney flattened Mullan on the edge of the penalty area. Vanney leveled Mullan with an elbow and was booked for the challenge.
Ching had an open look on goal in the 65th minute and nearly doubled Houston's lead but Cronin did well to save Ching's 15-yard attempt.
Caig came up with another stellar save in the 66th minute. Randolph tested Caig from the left side of the box but Caig parried the ball away.
However, the Galaxy eventually found the back of the net as Donovan beat Ianni to a Beckham cross in the 67th minute. Donovan dove and headed the ball past Caig in a spectacular goal as the Galaxy leveled terms.
The two teams exchanged possession afterward as neither side threatened the opponent's goal. It was not until Houston won a corner kick in the 77th minute that one side stepped up. After a series of passes, Ching found himself on the ball inside the penalty area. His shot hit the crossbar and bounced out to Caraccio, who had no problems putting the ball into the back of the net for his first MLS goal.
Caraccio ripped his jersey off and swung it over his head on the sideline in celebration and picked up a yellow card for the move.
However, the victory was not meant to be. Beckham was turned loose by Klein on the right side of the field and drove a low cross to the far post. Donovan raced onto it and slipped it into the back of the net for the eventual equalizer.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
