Revolution at Houston Dynamo, 4.17.11

MLS commissioner Don Garber will not be cuing up the video of this game to win over the unconverted. The Revs consistently gave the ball away, failed to string passes together, looked listless and monochromatic, and never threatened to score. Their lackluster performance may have been understandable as they were without their twin midfield stalwarts, Shalrie Joseph and Pat Phelan, both of whom sat this one out due to red cards in the last game. The Revs were also without left back Didier Domi because of a strained hamstring. Goalkeeper Matt Reis was back from injuries and Danish newcomer Rajko Lekic debuted at striker, making this a very different team from the one that took on Salt Lake a week prior. Of course, the result against Houston was no better than the one against Salt Lake, and the quality of play was worse.

For their part, the Houston Dynamo dominated the game but were unable to score through 85 minutes. Houston had many chances before that, in fact some might argue that they actually did score in the 57^th minute on a ball that Zack Schilawski cleared during some chaos following one of Houston’s corner kicks. (Houston seemed to be taking corners every other minute. Brad Davis probably had to ice his shoulder after the game from all the signaling he did before kicking them.) For my part, I think the linesman made a good call on the Schilawski clear. If a ball isn’t obviously over the line (and the replay angle left doubt), then a goal shouldn’t be called.

A better chance for Houston came earlier in the game, when a Will Bruin header missed its target from about two yards off. The ill-fated shot came off a perfect cross from Cam Weaver. Weaver almost won the game himself in the 86^th minute with a strong header off the crossbar. By that time, Houston had missed so many opportunities that a 0-0 result seemed to have been dictated by the Delphic oracle. It’s probably fitting that the game’s only goal came off Weaver’s rebound, not his shot, and that the goal was ugly and, the replay revealed, illegal. After Weaver’s header crashed off the bar, the ball sailed high into the air and Reis and Houston’s Hunter Freeman looked liked two basketball players fighting for position under the boards. Freeman took the analogy a little further by using his hand to sweep the ball into the goal. The referee understandably missed the call; there were just too many bodies obstructing the play. The whole rebound sequence was emblematic of an ugly game that lacked quality finishes and drama.