three in one game -- while FC Dallas saw a three-game winning run ended at Chivas USA the weekend before.
• But it was the Hoops that took the lead in the 30th minute, finishing off a great tic-tac-toe passing sequence. Abe Thompson started it, finding Kenny Cooper, who played to Dax McCarty, who slipped in Thompson who had completed his run, and the second-year forward rolled his shot under Houston 'keeper Pat Onstad.
• Yet Dynamo came storming back after the break. A poor clearance was intercepted by Brian Mullan and he found an unmarked Ricardo Clark in the area, who had plenty of time to turn and fire high inside the near post for the 51st-minute equalizer.
• Then in the 67th minute, Clark took a pass in the center circle and released Joseph Ngwenya, who raced away from the pulled-up FCD back line and stroked a curling shot around Dario Sala inside the right-hand post.
• There were tense moments for the home side after Onstad was sent off in the 78th minute when he took down FCD substitute Arturo Alvarez just outside the area after he raced in alone with an intercepted back pass. But Dynamo held on to remain perfect on their home ground against their Texas rivals, with four wins all-time in all competitions.
• FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow made one change to the team that lost 2-0 to Chivas USA the previous weekend. With Chris Gbandi away on international duty, David Wagenfuhr came back into the team at left back.
• Here's Morrow's team (4-3-1-2): Dario Sala - Drew Moor, Clarence Goodson (Bobby Rhine 31), Alex Yi, David Wagenfuhr - Dax McCarty, Pablo Ricchetti, Juan Toja - Ramon Nunez (Dominic Oduro 73) - Abe Thompson, Kenny Cooper (Arturo Alvarez 73). Substitutes Not Used: Shaka Hislop, Aaron Pitchkolan, Marcelo Saragosa, Blake Wagner
• "We started the game well, possessing and passing the ball well for the first 15 to 20 minutes, and I thought we were by far the better team early on in the game and deserved to be up one," Morrow said. "And then we stopped passing the ball, gave up possession too easily and allowed them to get a bit of momentum. We started the second half very flat, and we lacked a lot of character and determination. I'm very disappointed."
TEAM NEWS
• Morrow was forced into a change at the half-hour mark after Clarence Goodson suffered a hamstring injury. He is listed as questionable for this weekend.
• I thought that happened at a very bad time for us. Clarence has been playing very well; it was a very big loss for us at an important time in the game," Morrow said. "I think it definitely unsettled us. We were defending well at the back. Clarence is an important of our back line, and like I said, he was a big loss to us when he went off."
• In addition, Morrow said the FCD attack sputtered as Ramon Nuñez was unable to put his stamp on the game. "I thought he had a very quiet second half, couldn't find the ball," Morrow said. "He was able to find good gaps in the first half, get on the ball in good positions, and was difficult to pick up. We just didn't see that from him in the second half."
• Once again, FCD were unable to keep a clean sheet. In addition, they've allowed the most goals in MLS through last weekend's games - 16, in 11 games, though three teams have allowed more on a per-game basis.
• "We pride ourselves in keeping clean sheets, not giving away goals, and we're just giving teams too many opportunities right now," defender Drew Moor said. "If you give a team as many corner kicks and set pieces and chances through the run of play, it's tough. You're not going to be able to keep clean sheets when you're giving teams this many opportunities."
• With the loss, FCD falls to 0-4 all-time in Houston. It's not a record the Hoops want to have against their intrastate rival. "Houston is a good team, and they play well at home," Alvarez said. "But, that record doesn't match us at all. I couldn't tell you why that is. I guess we just need to play the full 90 (minutes) next time."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Facing a manpower shortage, the Los Angeles Galaxy had their winless streak extended to four games, playing to a scoreless draw with D.C. United last Saturday at The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy sit at the foot of the Western Conference table with six points from seven matches, level with Real Salt Lake and 10 points adrift of first-place FCD.
LAST MATCH
• D.C. United came to town riding a three-game winning streak and four-game unbeaten run, while the Galaxy were looking for their first win since April 28, winless in their last three.
• The Galaxy were further hamstrung, as international duty and injuries left Frank Yallop with just 13 field players to call upon. But despite a somewhat untested lineup, the Galaxy held the majority of the play, though they failed to really test United 'keeper Troy Perkins, called upon to make just two saves on the night.
• United did have some quality chances, the best falling to Fred in the first half, though he saw a sizzling shot bang off the post.
• But they started to dry up and the Galaxy nearly grabbed the full three points late in the match when Cobi Jones had the ball in the area with Perkins off his line. But defender Bryan Namoff was able to clear away the chance.
• Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop made three changes to the team that lost 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids the weekend before in Commerce City. Ian Russell and Kyle Veris came into the back four and Cobi Jones returned to the midfield, with Ante Jazic and Kevin Harmse away on international duty and Kyle Martino suspended.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-2): Joe Cannon - Ian Russell (Mike Randolph 70), Tyrone Marshall, Kyle Veris, Ty Harden - Cobi Jones, Nathan Sturgis, Peter Vagenas, Santino Quaranta (Robbie Findley 57) - Landon Donovan, Nate Jaqua. Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Josh Tudela
• "It's the same story we've had all year really. We had the chances to score early in the match," said Yallop. "I guess in the end a draw was fair. (D.C.) had some good chances too. It's disappointing not to win at home, but all things considered we did the right things to win."
TEAM NEWS
• The Galaxy had just 13 outfield players to choose from, between injuries and international duty. Still, said Landon Donovan: "For me, I'm still here, and I know I can do better. Personally I'm gutted. It (stinks) because the guys who are out there are busting their (butts) and doing well. It's tough."
• Los Angeles has conceded just one goal in their last two contests, but failed to find the back of the net in either. The Galaxy have now gone 220 minutes without scoring a goal in league play.
• "I can't remember ever being more frustrated. If you think about all the chances, I could have 10 goals in seven games realistically," said Donovan. "You have to stay positive. We're doing the right things -- now it's how do you make it happen, how do you bury it."
• Yallop ran out a very experimental back four, with Ty Harden moving to left back after playing the entirety of the season in the center, and Ian Russell once again reprising his right back role. When Mike Randolph came in for Russell on 70 minutes, Harden moved back into the middle and Kyle Veris moved to the right side.
• "The main thing that we worked on was talking between ourselves - as long as we communicate whatever is thrown at us, it'll make it easier, so we just made sure that we communicated and tried to keep the game in front of us," Veris said.
• Striker Nate Jaqua had a glorious chance early on, but was unable to find the back of the net. He is still searching for a first goal since coming to the Galaxy from the Chicago Fire via Toronto FC in the offseason.
• "It's tremendously frustrating. For me personally I'm new here in L.A. and I want to come out and prove something to the fans and get some goals," said Jaqua. "Obviously we just need to win. It's frustrating."
• Jaqua endured some more pain during the week, undergoing surgery to repair a fractured right wrist. Still, he will available for selection for the FC Dallas match.
• "We all watched the same game. Nate missed a lot of chances, but he's worked his tail off in every game," said Yallop. "I just hope that one flies in for him. (This) week would be good obviously. We're working hard and trying to do the right things to get these guys more comfortable and confident in front of the goal."
