It wasn’t pretty. In fact, at times, it was downright ugly. However, the Houston Dynamo did what it needed to do, secure a win and advance to the elimination stages of the CONCACAF Champions League as it defeated Salvadoran team Luis Angel Firpo 1-0 Wednesday night at Robertson stadium.
The Dynamo jumped on Firpo early with four corner kicks in the first twelve minutes. On the fourth corner, a perfectly placed ball by Dwayne DeRosario found the head of Brian Ching from short distance and Ching headed the ball into the net to give Houston the early lead.
With the early goal, one would think it would be easier for Houston. However, after the first thirty minutes, Firpo started to get their feet underneath them. In the 37th minute, a Christian Sanchez cross found the head of Patricio Gomez, but Houston keeper Pat Onstad saved the effort. Onstad again came up big right before the end of the half to preserve Houston’s first half lead.
The first half was also marred by hard, physical tackles and gamesmanship. Craig Waibel, Brian Mullan, Leonardo Pekarnic, and Dwayne DeRosario were each hit with yellow cards in the first half and both teams were whistled for a combined twenty fouls. Dwayne DeRosario, who was lucky to not get sent off for his two handed push on a Firpo player, admitted to losing focus, “our focus was to go in and set the pace and tempo and score early. After that we got caught up in their antics and lost our head and the focus on our job.”
The second half was no prettier. Another 19 fouls, two ejections, including one for a straight red, and five additional yellow cards drained any quality there might have been out of the match.
Houston had an early chance to extend its lead as a Mike Chabala cross found the head of Dynamo forward Nate Jaqua in front of goal, but Jaqua’s header went wide of goal. Firpo continued to press forcing Onstad into two solid saves in the 54th and 56th minute, one off a header, the other off a Fernando Leguizamon shot.
With the pressure mounting, Houston made some changes bringing on Kei Kamara for Nate Jaqua. Since Jaqua was selected by Seattle earlier in the day in the MLS Expansion Draft, the 14,142 in attendance gave him a standing ovation for his service to the team on his last game in a Dynamo uniform. Jaqua appreciated the show of support, “the fans have been tremendous. It’s sad to be leaving. A little bittersweet, I get to go back home which is important for me with my family, but leaving here, it is almost like a second home and it has been a great couple of years.”
Firpo wasn’t ready to concede just yet and it continued to pressure. In the 82nd minute, Eddie Robinson stepped up to clear a ball and his follow through hit a Firpo player. The referee believed the play was malicious and Robinson received a straight red card. Houston though wasn’t a man down for long as Firpo 2nd half substitute Carlos Calderon entered the game in the 83rd minute, received his first yellow in the 87th minute, and his second yellow in stoppage time and once again the numbers were even for the final three of four minutes of stoppage time.
Houston continued to hold off the Firpo attacks with solid defensive clearances and when they did get the ball, Houston played it to Kei Kamara who did well holding the ball deep in Firpo territory. The referee blew the final whistle and Houston had done enough to secure a 1-0 win.
Despite the victory, Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear was absolutely livid after the game about his opponent, “I thought the opponent was embarrassing. The way they carried on, the way the referee sat by and bought into the game. It makes you question whether you should enter this tournament again. It’s really frustrating…I am happy we won. I don’t have a lot of good things to say about their team. I am just glad we beat them and I wish we beat them 10-0 because playing a team like that is frustrating and brings out all the ugly things in soccer…To see people punch people between the legs and spit on people and then hug you after the game is embarrassing and I am glad they loss.”
Kinnear continued on to the officiating, “It’s frustrating when you step on the field and you have referees who are second rate. It’s frustrating for people who pay to watch this…It’s pretty pathetic.” The stats seemed to back up Kinnear’s frustrations with the home team Dynamo whistled for 27 fouls to only 12 fouls for Firpo.
With the win, Houston advances to the Elimination Stages of the CONCACAF Champions League. The draw will be December 10 and in late February Houston will face CD Marathon of Honduras, or one of two teams from Mexico; Atlante, or Santos.
For the Dynamo, a win is a win as Craig Waibel noted, “as a team we did what we had to do, but it wasn’t our best game.” Dwayne DeRosario was happy to end the season on a positive note after the disappointing first round playoff exit, “It makes us [feel] good to end the season on a winning note. This game was a huge game for us and we wanted to send ourselves and our fans off with a winning result.”
Match Facts
CD Luis Angel Firpo vs. Houston Dynamo
CONCACAF Champions League, Group stage
November 26, 2008 — Robertson Stadium
Scoring Summary:
HOU — Brian Ching 1 (Dwayne De Rosario ) 13
Lineups:
CD Luis Angel Firpo — Juan Jose Gomez, Emerson Veliz (Carlos Calderon 83), Salvador Morales, Manuel Salazar, Carlos Monteagudo, Jorge Sanchez, Dennis Alas, Leonardo Pekarnik, Christian Sanchez (Francisco Medrano 46), Patricio Gomez, Fernando Leguizamon.
Substitutes Not Used: Henry Hernandez, Ricardo Orellana, Mauricio Quintanilla
Houston Dynamo — Pat Onstad, Craig Waibel, Bobby Boswell, Eddie Robinson, Mike Chabala, Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Dwayne De Rosario (Richard Mulrooney 81), Corey Ashe, Brian Ching (Patrick Ianni 85), Nate Jaqua (Kei Kamara 68).
Substitutes Not Used: Wade Barrett, Chris Wondolowski, Tony Caig, John Michael Hayden
Misconduct Summary:
HOU — Craig Waibel (caution; Reckless Tackle) 33
LAF — Leonardo Pekarnik (caution; Dissent) 34
HOU — Dwayne De Rosario (caution; Reckless Foul) 44
HOU — Brian Mullan (caution; Reckless Tackle) 47+
LAF — Carlos Monteagudo (caution; Tactical Foul) 76
HOU — Kei Kamara (caution; Goalkeeper Interference) 78
HOU — Eddie Robinson (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 82
LAF — Carlos Calderon (caution; Reckless Tackle) 87
LAF — Carlos Calderon (ejection; Second Caution) 91+
LAF — Salvador Morales (caution; Reckless Foul) 93+
Referee: Roberto Garcia (MEX)
Referee’s Assistants: Juan Rangel (MEX); Alfonso Delgado (MEX)
4th Official: Baldomero Toledo
Time Of Game: 1:52
Attendance: 14,142
Weather: Clear -and- 68 degrees
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