Hoops defeat FC Dallas 1-0
FC Dallas defeated the Houston Dynamo by a score of 1-0 in their first leg match at Pizza Hut Park. It was Dallas’s first victory over the defending champions in 5 tries this season. The Dynamo came on strong in the second half and came very close to drawing even but were unable to break through. Dario Sala made 4 top of the line saves in order to help secure the points for the home side. Dwayne De Rosario had a big match in a losing cause for the visitors. The Dynamo were done in by poor performances from their two strikers Brian Ching and Joseph Ngwenya.
The Hoops had struggled during the final week’s of the season and won only 2 of their final 10 game. Manager Steve Morrow looked to rectify things by making a number of changes to the starting eleven. The first was due to the return to fitness of starting keeper Dario Sala and he replaced Ray Burse. In addition, Chris Gbandi came in to play in the back line. Dallas scored their goal on a play in which they caught the Houston defense napping. Clarence Goodson got free on a throw in Adrian Serioux and put it into the net.
The Dynamo came out strong for the second half and pushed forward at all times. Manager Dominic Kinnear must have really given them quite a talking to at the half. De Rosario was playing well but Serioux and Drew Moor masterful in down both Ching and Ngwenya. Ngwenya would wind up being replaced by Nate Jaqua midway through the second half. Another second half substitute, Brad Davis would have the best chance of the half when he came up one on one against Sala but the Argentine flicked it over the bar to generate the corner kick. Now Houston know they’ll have to score at least 2 goals in the return leg if they are to avoid a penalty kick shootout.
