Summary
The Dynamo’s busiest month of the season (eight games) seemed to catch up to them, as Colorado got the game’s only goal on a Julian Baudet header from a corner kick. Houston picked up yet another red card, with Brad Davis being sent off after Colorado’s Pablo Mastroeni avoided a red card for a worse challenge.
Notes
The Houston Dynamo allowed a second-half goal to the Colorado Rapids Sunday afternoon and suffered a 1-0 loss at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
The Dynamo maintain the overall points lead in MLS with 40 points, although the Columbus Crew (39 points) play later tonight. Houston leads the LA Galaxy by two points in the Western Conference standings, although the Galaxy have a game in hand.
After a scoreless first half with few chances, the Rapids took the lead in the 55th minute when Mehdi Ballouchy bent a corner kick into the penalty area, and Julien Baudet muscled his way in front of Kei Kamara to head the ball into the net for his first MLS goal in only his third MLS game. The corner was one of nine on the day for the Rapids.
Houston’s best chance of the game came in the 49th minute, when Kei Kamara broke into the right side of the box but fired his shot directly at a charging Matt Pickens, his only save of the game. Brad Davis also went close with a second-half free kick.
The Dynamo's Brad Davis was ejected in the 87th minute after a mid-air collision with Mehdi Ballouchy. Davis was initially shown a yellow card, but the card was changed to a red after the referee conferred with his linesman. The challenge appeared more innocuous than the one that earned Colorado's Pablo Mastroeni a yellow card in the 64th minute.
For Houston, Wade Barrett made his 135th appearance with the Dynamo, Stuart Holden made his 110th, and Corey Ashe made his 95th. Brian Mullan made his 205th career MLS start, Brad Davis made his 155th, and Kei Kamara made his 50th.
The Dynamo are now off until Sunday, September 13, when they will face Supporters' Shield rival Columbus on the road in Ohio. Houston will then return home for five consecutive games September 19-October 18.
Houston played Sunday without forward Cam Weaver (hernia surgery) and defenders Richard Mulrooney (knee surgery), and Eddie Robinson (disabled list). Defender Bobby Boswell left the game at halftime with a thigh injury.
Houston Dynamo (11-7-7) vs. Colorado Rapids (9-7-6)
August 30, 2009 -- Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City CO
Scoring Summary:
COL -- Julian Baudet 1 (Mehdi Ballouchy 7) 55
Houston Dynamo -- Pat Onstad, Andrew Hainault, Bobby Boswell (Ryan Cochrane 46), Geoff Cameron, Wade Barrett (Corey Ashe 74), Brian Mullan (Luis Angel Landin 59), Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Brad Davis, Brian Ching, Kei Kamara.
Substitutes Not Used: Tally Hall, Mike Chabala, Dominic Oduro, Craig Waibel.
Colorado Rapids -- Matt Pickens, Kosuke Kimura, Cory Gibbs (Julian Baudet 13), Ugo Ihemelu, Jordan Harvey, Jacob Peterson, Pablo Mastroeni, Nick LaBrocca, Jamie Smith (Mehdi Ballouchy 34), Conor Casey, Omar Cummings (Pat Noonan 74).
Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo, Facundo Diz, Michael Holody, Rob Valentino.
Misconduct Summary:
COL -- Jordan Harvey (caution; Tactical Foul) 42
COL -- Pablo Mastroeni (caution; Reckless Foul) 64
HOU -- Luis Angel Landin (caution; Dissent) 72
HOU -- Brad Davis (ejection; Violent Conduct) 87
COL -- Conor Casey (caution; Delay of Game) 91+
gameSumLabel">Referee: Hilario Grajeda
gameSumLabel">Referee's Assistants: George Gansner; Peter Manikowski
gameSumLabel">4th official: Ben Chouaf
gameSumLabel">Attendance: 10,897
Weather: Cloudy-and-63-degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
