Houston and FC Dallas kicked off the 2010 season in grand fashion at Pizza Hut Park. Houston got a goal from Mike Chabala, the first of his MLS career in the 36th minute while FCD answered two minutes later with a tally from Atiba Harris in a 1-1 draw.
About three minutes in, miscommunication between Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell and goalkeeper Pat Onstad led to a chance for FCD. Boswell passed back to Onstad, who didn’t know the ball was coming his way. FCD forward Jeff Cunningham dashed over and got a shot off but struck Onstad in the midsection.
In the 30th minute, Houston striker Dominic Oduro had a one-on-one with FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala, but he shot right at the FCD ‘keeper. A shot by Brad Davis in the 32nd sailed high, and one from Geoff Cameron three minutes later was denied at the far post by Sala.
However, Oduro redeemed himself with a nice feed on Chabala’s goal. After getting the ball from his teammate, Chabala dribbled several feet before striking a shot off from just outside the box as he was falling down. His effort beat Sala near post to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
FCD quickly answered. Attacking midfielder David Ferreira set up Harris nicely, spotting him open on the right flank. Harris got around Boswell long enough to get a shot off, tucking one just inside the left post for the equalizer.
Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear had to go to his bench a bit early when he had to call on Ryan Cochrane to come in for an injured Eddie Robinson in the 43rd minute.
Three minutes into the final half, FCD was awarded a free kick about 20 yards from the Dynamo goal. Heath Pearce took it, but none of his teammates were able to get on the end of it. In the 52nd, Pearce tried to connect from about 30 yards out but his shot sailed high.
In the 55th, Hyndman also saw one of his starting defenders have to leave the field. Kyle Davies departed with a right arm injury. Rookie Eric Alexander came on for FCD, making his league debut.
Sala nearly cost his team dearly with a lapse in judgment in the 60th. The FCD ‘keeper stepped outside of his area on a punt and the Dynamo was awarded a free kick on the very edge of the box. Brad Davis took it, but saw his effort deflected over the end line by a teammate.
An apparent goal by Cunningham in the 63rd was waved off after he was ruled offside. Another chance by the veteran striker went wide left in the 70th with Boswell in hot pursuit. Cunningham’s next opportunity, in the 72nd, sailed high.
Luis Angel Landin came on for Houston in the 79th and in the 86th, got his head on the end of an Andrew Hainault cross but headed it over the FCD goal. Houston had a free kick and two corners in stoppage time but failed to muster any further chances.
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Scoring:
HOU—Mike Chabala 1 (Dominic Oduro, Brad Davis), 36th minute
FCD—Atiba Harris 1 (David Ferreira), 38th minute
Misconduct:
HOU—Bobby Boswell (caution, reckless behavior), 57th minute
FCD—Dax McCarty 33rd minute (caution, reckless foul), 33rd minute, Atiba Harris (caution, unsporting behavior), 45th minute
Lineups:
HOU—Pat Onstad, Andrew Hainault, Bobby Boswell, Eddie Robinson (Ryan Cochrane 43), Mike Chabala, Brian Mullan (Corey Ashe 62), Geoff Cameron, Richard Mulrooney, Brad Davis, Brian Ching, Dominic Oduro (Luis Angel Landin 79)
FCD—Dario Sala, Heath Pearce, George John, Kyle Davies (Eric Alexander 55), Jair Benitez, Atiba Harris, Daniel Hernandez, Dax McCarty (Bruno Guarda 92), Brek Shea (Eric Avila 69), Jeff Cunningham, David Ferreira
Attendance: 8,016
