Houston 0 TFC 0: Take yer MLS Record, We’ll Take a Point

By: Sam | July 19th, 2007

Analysis:
You want it? You want it? Aw, you can’t have it!

That’s to quote every single TFC player that played in Sunday’s game against Houston. Playing down a man after Maurice Edu’s sending-off near the end of the first half, the Dynamo had chance upon chance after chance, but couldn’t finish the job and had to settle for an extension of their unbeaten streak rather than one of their winning streak. They did, however, achieve the record for consecutive shutout minutes.

It is no argument at all that the game belonged to the Orange. Even when the teams were playing eleven a side, Houston was dominating with the likes of Craig Waibel and Stuart Holden creating chances and crossing balls for Ricardo Clark and Brian Ching. In the first half, Ching snapped a good header that went just wide, and Joseph Ngwenya looked to be copying his wonder goal against Chicago but was smartly stopped by Djekanovic. After Edu’s sending-off, Collin Samuel had a decent effort but was denied by Onstad.

The second half was no different, with Houston having the lion’s share of possession but still not finding a way behind TFC’s resilient defense. De Rosario, Holden, Clark and co all had very good chances from not too bad spots but all missed the net. Near the end of the match, Marvell Wynne almost pulled a rabbit out of his shorts on one of his spontaneous rocket runs but took too long of a touch and ended up giving it away to Onstad. Andrea Lombardo also had a shot on goal.

We have to say that the offensive display shown by Toronto was, well, offensive. Two shots on goal is not good, and only two more were actually taken. As Houston’s colour commentator insisted on saying every thirty seconds, our midfield was under tremendous pressure and coughed up the ball in the center very often. But hey, the defenders were excellent. Boyens was great.

Player’s grades:
Djekanovic: 7/10: Best game he’s played all year. Kept Houston off the scoresheet, that’s a feat and a half. Great saves against Ngwenya and Jaqua, and overall very solid and calm.
Boyens: 6,5: Perhaps the best game of the season from him as well. Goal-saving tackles against Ching and De Rosario, smart decisions outside the penalty area.
O’Brien: 6: He and Lombardo were the only bright spots on the attack. Held the ball well, had two shots, did his part best he could without Edu.
Brennan: 5: Playing in the midfield, where he’s supposed to, he didn’t make anything spectacular happen, but he played the holding game well with the backline.
Dunivant: 5,5: Not as evident as Wynne on the other side, but played a well enough overall game.
Pozniak: 4,5: Came in for Dichio just before half-time for a tactical sub after the sending-off. Didn’t get very many touches, didn’t contribute that much.
Marshall: 6: Aggressive! Physical! Once again showed he’s a tough-ass defender. Good tackles, good positioning, good fouls.
Wynne: 6: Some good runs again, even when down a man. Also ran like a madman to defend, and he did it well.
Samuel: 4: His shot on net was just about the only good thing. Isn’t a beacon at the top of the field like Cunningham, and that fact hurt him. Subbed off for Lombardo on 56 minutes, who was much better. (I also love him for yelling at the AR “Come on, he’s fucking holding me! Open your fucking eyes!” and Eddie Robinson “Get the fuck up, you crybaby”)
Robinson: 4,5: One of his off games. Held the midfielders well at times, but mostly left that job for his centerbacks. Turned the ball over a few times as well.

Houston Dynamo: Well, Onstad was good, of course. I’d heard lots about how Holden was fantastic coming into this match, and he did have a few good things going on the touchline, but nothing to match the hype. Dwayne De Rosario was very good, he was always the one making me nervous playing with the ball on the outskirts of the area. Joseph Ngwenya went offside six times. ‘Nuff said.

Officiating: I guess it’s just the fact that Okulaja looks like one of those jolly old guys that makes jokes all the time. The red card was one of those that I *argh* guess was deserved but just didn’t feel right. If I could have given Edu a yellow and a half, I would have.

Looking ahead: Next Sunday has us wrapping up the sucessfull road trip in Columbus, where we drew 2-2 earlier in the season. Without Edu, of course, and probably Sutton, whom I can’t find any updates on.