Summary
The Dynamo took the lead early in the second half on a well-worked passing sequence between Chris Wondolowski and Brian Ching, with Ching tapping in the first goal of the MLS season. The Dynamo walked away disappointed after Columbus equalized in the final 10 minutes on a goal from Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
Notes
The Houston Dynamo and the Columbus Crew played to a 1-1 tie in their opening match of the 2009 MLS season at Robertson Stadium Saturday night.
The Dynamo scored their first goal of the MLS season when Brian Ching took a pass through the middle at the top of the box from Chris Wondolowski and beat Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer just inside the left post. Wondolowski’s assist was his first since June 7, 2007, against the Colorado Rapids.
This was the third consecutive tie in a home opener for the Dynamo since beating Colorado 5-2 in the team’s inaugural match in Houston back in 2006.
Columbus Crew (0-0-1) vs. Houston Dynamo (0-0-1)
March 21, 2009 -- Robertson Stadium, Houston TX
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Brian Ching 1 (Chris Wondolowski 1) 53
CLB -- Guillermo Barros Schelotto 1 (Jason Garey 1, Alex Grendi 1) 81
Columbus Crew -- William Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall, Danny O'Rourke, Gino Padula (Jason Garey 79), Eddie Gaven, Brian Carroll, Emmanuel Ekpo (Duncan Oughton 87), Robbie Rogers (Alex Grendi 46), Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Alejandro Moreno.
Substitutes Not Used: Andy Gruenebaum, Andy Iro, Steven Lenhart, Jed Zayner.
Houston Dynamo -- Pat Onstad, Richard Mulrooney, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Wade Barrett, Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Brad Davis, Brian Ching, Chris Wondolowski.
Substitutes Not Used: Tally Hall, Corey Ashe, Mike Chabala, Danny Cruz, John Michael Hayden, Julius James, Craig Waibel.
Misconduct Summary:
HOU -- Geoff Cameron (caution; Reckless Tackle) 43
HOU -- Wade Barrett (caution; Reckless Foul) 59
CLB -- Eddie Gaven (caution; Reckless Foul) 62
CLB -- Frankie Hejduk (caution; Reckless Tackle) 75
gameSumLabel">Referee: Tim Weyland
gameSumLabel">Referee's Assistants: Paul Scott; Greg Boles
gameSumLabel">4th official: Edvin Jurisevic
gameSumLabel">Attendance: 16,053
Weather: Clear-and-65-degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
