Half Time: Galaxy-Dynamo
Sean Franklin, the rookie defender who has been so impressive for the Galaxy so far this term, was well and truly beaten by the Dynamo's Brian Mullan on the opening goal by Houston about 10 minutes before half time.
Mullan beat Franklin by the touchline, then crossed the ball to Argentine Franco Caraccio who headed it down to Brian Ching. He whiffed on it, but the ball fell to Brad Davis who tucked it away.
Houston thoroughly deserved the lead having dominated possession and strung together the more impressive attacking opportunities in the opening half.
The Galaxy needed Josh Tudela to clear off the goal line to prevent a goal in the seventh minute, while Steve Cronin pushed a Davis free kick onto the bar in the 26th minute.
Galaxy attacks were largely restricted to a well-worked third minute move slickly begun by David Beckham and an Edson Buddle header that went wide in first half stoppage time.
The Dynamo ended the half with 10 shots to the Galaxy's five.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook.
A tale of two halves. The Galaxy scored three in the second, though the last one was headed out of the goal and the AR was out of position so it didn't count.
Frustrating, but a point at least, and some life at last.
What do you think, Nick? Did Xavier and Franchino help, or did Houston just run out of gas?
Nick replies: Franchino played his role; Abel Xavier gets beat every time in one on one situations. The Galaxy shut Houston down in the second half. Credit to savvy tactical and personnel changes by Gulllit in the second.
Oh, yeah, two more thoughts.
It was Ianni who headed Buddle's shot out of the goal. Figures.
And if the goal had counted, the Galaxy would be tied for first in the West.