New York Red Bulls 1-0 Houston Dynamo
“We won 1-0 in a massive game tonight. “It’s become a big story, but it’s not. It’s not a big story; said Red Bulls coach Petke:
The story tonight is a 1-0 win and guys that worked hard for it.”The Red Bulls scored the game’s only goal two minutes into the second half. Right back Richard Eckersley fed Lloyd Sam down the right flank and the winger charged into the penalty area and drove a low cross through the six-yard box that carried past New York forward Bradley Wright-Phillips, Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric and defender David Horst toward the back post, where Henry was unmarked and finished into an empty net for a 1-0 lead.
Houston searched for the equalizer and gained a free kick two minutes later, which Brad Davis quickly played to Boniek Garcia, who drove a low cross that was alertly handled by Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles.
Garcia continued to lead the attack a minute later, cutting inside from the right flank and playing a short pass to Omar Cummings, who drove a shot from 25 yards that was saved by Robles.
One of Houston’s best chances in the second half arrived in the 53rd minute, as Davis curled a beautiful cross from the flank and Giles Barnes used one touch from eight yards, but his shot was saved by Robles at the near post.
In the 60th minute, Henry played a through ball in front of Wright-Phillips, who snuck in behind the Houston defense and had a chance on goal but Deric closed the space well and made a save on the league’s leading goal scorer.
The Dynamo threatened in the 80th minute as substitute midfielder Andrew Driver fed Davis on the edge of the box and the Dynamo captain’s shot from 20 yards seemed bound for the low corner before it deflected of Garcia near the penalty spot and caromed over the crossbar.
Houston gained a man advantage in the 88th minute when New York substitute Tim Cahill was issued a red card for a hard sliding challenge on Garcia.
The Dynamo continued to pour forward for the equalizer into stoppage time, and a cross to the back post was headed by Driver back toward the middle but handled by Robles.
