Despite some late heroics, it was that kind of night for the Houston Dynamo in their 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night.
After giving up an early goal to Kenny Cooper, the Dynamo found themselves searching for an equalizer for the balance of the match. And while they controlled the tempo and put pressure on the home team, they were left empty-handed.
HIGHLIGHTS: New York 1, Houston 0
“We gave up an early goal and went searching for the equalizer and had a lot of the play and had some chances, but just couldn’t find the goal today,” head coach Dominic Kinnear told MLSsoccer.com by phone. “This group’s always the same. I’m never left questioning their attitude and commitment trying to get back into games. These guys are professionals and they care and it shows in the way they play.”
That resolve came through as the clock wound down and the pressure was on the Dynamo. Led by Brad Davis, who made his return to the starting XI and just missed two clean chances at the end, Houston put on a barrage of opportunities in the final 20 minutes. But despite controlling the game and dominating the closing portion, Davis and the Dynamo could not find that late equalizer.
OPTA Chalkboard: Houston put together barrage in final 20
“I feel like we were the better team and we moved the ball well and had the chances,” Davis told MLSsoccer.com by phone after the match. “We’re very disappointed about this and I’m taking this one pretty hard and putting this one on my shoulders.
“I had a number of chances and I have to score one of those opportunities,” Davis continued. “Those are opportunities you pray for all year long and I have to do better with my opportunities. It is tough to swallow because I feel like we should’ve come away with at least a point if not more.”
While the Dynamo missed their chances, there were some encouraging things to come out of the match. Davis pointed to the club’s ability to string passes together and put pressure on the Red Bulls. The late push once again showed the club’s resolve and provides some encouragement despite the result.
“One of the things I’ve been trying to do is look at the positives and I think it’s a credit to our guys,” Davis said. “We came here, guys worked hard and created the chances and had the opportunities to score. It just didn’t happen for us tonight.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
