Cam Weaver scored the Dynamo goal from a Luis Angel LandÃn assist, while Pat Onstad saved a penalty kick in the tie. Houston continues preseason action on Sunday with a road game against the Austin Aztex but will not play another match in Houston until the Dynamo's home opener on Thursday, April 1.
The Dynamo had the best chances of Thursday's first half in the 35th minute. Right back Ryan Cochrane sprung Dominic Oduro with a long ball, but Chicago goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra stopped Oduro's shot and Weaver's rebound effort, keeping the game scoreless.
In the second half, Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad was forced into his first save in the 63rd minute when he stopped Collins John's effort from the left. Onstad then fired a long outlet throw to the Dynamo left flank, leading to a counterattack.
LandÃn, who had come on as a substitute, found room on the left sideline to bend in a terrific cross with the outside of his right foot, and Weaver got across his defender to glance a header just inside the far post and give Houston the lead.
Chicago tied the game, however, in the 71st minute, when Marco Pappa received a pass in the middle of the field and whistled a 30-yard left-footed shot past a stranded Onstad. Three minutes later, Houston defender Eddie Robinson was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for a foul in the penalty area. Pappa had a chance to give the Fire the lead from the penalty spot, but Onstad dove to his right to make the save. He tipped over a header soon after to finish the night with three saves.
Chicago also went down to 10 men and later received another red card, but the Dynamo allowed a substitution and the game finished 10 v. 10. The Dynamo had close chances through LandÃn in the 78th minute and Waibel in the 83rd minute from a Lovel Palmer corner, but both shots went wide.
The match was the first preseason appearance for midfielder Richard Mulrooney, returning from knee surgery last July, when he came on in the 83rd minute.
Houston is next in preseason action against the Austin Aztex in an exhibition match at Nelson Field in Austin on Sunday at 5 p.m. The Dynamo will host the Dynamo Charities Season Kickoff Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Downtown on Tuesday, March 16, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
More information is available by calling at (713) 276-7574.
Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo March 11, 2010 - Sorrels Soccer Field, HBU Preseason scrimmage
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Cam Weaver (Luis Angel LandÃn) 63
CHI -- Marco Pappa (Wilman Conde) 71
Chicago Fire -- Andrew Dykstra, Tim Ward, C.J. Brown, Wilman Conde, Deris Umanzor, Julio Martinez (Collins John 46), Peter Lowry, Baggio Husidic (Logan Pause 46), Marco Pappa (Justin Mapp 85), Brian McBride (Mike Banner 69), Patrick Nyarko.
Houston Dynamo -- Pat Onstad, Ryan Cochrane (Craig Waibel 65), Eddie Robinson, Bobby Boswell, Mike Chabala, Brian Mullan (Danny Cruz 66), Lovel Palmer, Geoff Cameron (Richard Mulrooney 83), Corey Ashe (Francisco Navas Cobo 81), Cam Weaver, Dominic Oduro (Luis Angel LandÃn 60).
Misconduct Summary:
HOU -- Eddie Robinson (caution) 15
HOU -- Brian Mullan (caution) 55
HOU -- Mike Chabala (caution) 68
CHI -- Marco Pappa (caution) 70
CHI -- C.J. Brown (caution) 73
HOU -- Eddie Robinson (ejection; second caution) 74
CHI -- Deris Umanzor (ejection) 77
CHI -- Marco Pappa (ejection; second caution) 85
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
