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Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo tie Toronto FC

July 20, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


Will Bruin and Giles Barnes scored as the Houston Dynamo and Toronto FC played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The teams exchanged goals twice in the first half before playing a scoreless second half.

Will Bruin opened the scoring in the 11th minute, hustling to challenge a back pass from Toronto FC defender Bradley Orr to goalkeeper Joe Bendik and collecting the misplayed pass before finishing into an empty net for a 1-0 lead.

It was Bruin's team-leading seventh goal of the season.

The Dynamo nearly doubled the lead seven minutes later as Brad Davis settled the ball with his chest and turned onto his left foot to shoot from 10 yards, forcing a strong save from Bendik, who dove to his left to keep it out.

But Toronto FC leveled the score within a minute. Dominic Oduro sent a cross from the right flank to Justin Morrow on the left edge of the box. Morrow used one touch to center the ball to Gilberto, who turned and tucked a low shot inside the post for the equalizing goal.

The Dynamo answered in the 26th minute as Ricardo Clark slid a forward ball to Barnes in the center of the field. Barnes turned and carried the ball forward before unleashing a low drive from 25 yards that curled away from Bendik and hit the side of the net inside the far post for a 2-1 lead.

Barnes has recorded two goals and two assists in his last three games. It was Barnes' fifth goal of the season.

Toronto FC was awarded a penalty kick one minute later and Michael Bradley took the spot kick, sending it low and to his right but it crashed off the post for a miss.

TFC produced its second tying goal of the half in stoppage time. Luke Moore collected the ball near the corner and drove toward the endline before sending a cross in front of goal that was finished from close range by Dominic Oduro moments before halftime.

A minute after halftime, Tally Hall produced an important save, diving far to his left to parry a shot from Moore wide of the post.

The Dynamo came close to finding a winning goal in the 75th minute. Substitute midfielder Andrew Drive beat two defenders with a low pass to Bruin on the right side of the box. Bruin used a good first touch to set up a chance from a tight angle, and Bendik made another good save at the near post to keep the score tied.

A minute later, Davis and Boniek Garcia combined on a beautiful sequence at the top of the box that ended with Garcia's clever layoff for Davis, who forced another vital save from Bendik.

In the 90th minute, Bruin headed a goal kick in the path of Barnes, who drove a low shot from another acute angle to the far post, but Bendik palmed the shot wide for his fourth save of the half.

The Dynamo (19 points) are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference but only four points removed from a playoff spot. New England, Philadelphia and Columbus each have 23 points and are tied for the fifth and final playoff spot.

The Dynamo host Aston Villa of the English Premier League on Saturday, July 26 at 8 p.m. in the sixth annual BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup.

Houston resumes MLS play when it hosts D.C. United on Sunday, Aug. 3 at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Dynamo Milestones and notes:

Brad Davis did not register a goal or an assist, ending a career-best eight-game streak in which he recorded a goal or an assist.

It was Davis' 324th career regular season game to pass Brian Mullan (323) for 13th on the MLS all-time list.

It was Giles Barnes' 17th career goal in all competitions with the Dynamo to pass Ricardo Clark and tie Cam Weaver for sixth on the club list.

It was also Barnes' 14th career regular season goal with Houston to equal Clark for sixth on the franchise list.

Clark assisted on Barnes' goal for his 15th career regular season assist with the Dynamo to tie Geoff Cameron for fifth on the club list.

It was Tally Hall's 125th career regular season start.

It was Will Bruin's 101st career regular season start to pass Cameron and Andre Hainault for ninth on the club list.

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