MLS New England Revolution

Revolution draws 1-1 with Dynamo

Published on May 27, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Foxborough, Mass. - After a scoreless first half between the New England Revolution and the Houston Dynamo at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night, Steve Ralston's 55th minute goal put the Revolution up 1-0, but Houston's Ryan Cochrane evened the score in the 85th and the two teams played to a 1-1 draw.

Ralston connected for his second goal of the season after Jeff Larentowicz brought the ball down the right wing out of the back. He fed Pat Noonan down the right side, who dribbled to the endline before sending a cross to the back post, where Ralston's first-time, left-footed volley beat found the back of the net from just inside the six-yard box.

The Dynamo scored against the run of play in the 85th minute. The Dynamo earned an attacking throw-in along the far touchline. Wade Barrett found Ricardo Clark, before he returned the ball to Barrett. Barrett crossed into the center of the penalty area where Revs players surrounded Cochrane. The Dynamo central defender managed to get a shot off which deflected off of New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph and into the back of the next, pulling Houston even 1-1 with minutes to play.

The tie extended New England's unbeaten streak at Gillette Stadium to three games as the Revs have outscored their opponents 8-2 in that span.

Houston had the game's first chance, coming in the second minute. Cochrane sent Ronald Cerritos down the right center channel, through the Revs defense. Cerritos got off a cross to Wade Barrett who was unmarked at the far, left post, but Barrett, a defender playing in midfield for the injured Brad Davis, missed high over the crossbar.

In the 11th minute, Barrett and midfielder Dwyane De Rosario played a give-and-go at the near edge of the box, but Barrett's shot was blocked. On the resulting corner - taken by De Rosario - defender Eddie Robinson sent a header toward net that Revs keeper Matt Reis punched clear, but did so directly to Ricardo Clark, whose ensuing shot sailed high and off target.

In the 14th minute, the Revs continued to pressure as Joseph threaded a pass down the near touchline to Ralston who carried it just outside the area, where he sent a bending cross in on net toward Taylor Twellman, but Dynamo defender Craig Waible headed the ball out of play.

In the 26th, Twellman and Noonan again connected when Twellman came down the left center channel to the edge of the penalty area. Noonan stood unmarked 13 yards out when Twellman found him, but Noonan's shot sailed wide right, keeping the score 0-0.

Houston outshot New England in the first half, 7-3, and had the better of the scoring chances in the opening period.

Coming out in the second half, the Revolution picked up its speed of play and controlled the tempo of the game. Ralston's goal in the 55th minute was the result of increased New England pressure in the attacking third of the field. Larentowicz's assist on the goal was his first career MLS point. Noonan's assist was also his first point of the year, coming in his second game back from injury - his fifth appearance of the year.

In the 67th minute, Ralston was fouled 25 yards out of net, setting up a José Cancela free kick. Cancela's direct kick dipped around the five-man Dynamo wall to the far post, but Houston keeper Pat Onstad made the save.

On its next trip down the field in the 68th, Kevin Goldthwaite played the ball into the far corner and beat his defender to the endline, sending a cross back cross field to Brian Mullen, who was unmarked on the near corner of the box. His left-footed, side volley shot went wide right, but challenged New England keeper Matt Reis, who dove after the shot.

The Revolution continued to force the attack in the second half and in the 74th minute, Larentowicz again spurred the attack out of the back. He sprang Dorman along the wing, who set up Noonan three yards out in the box alone. However, the attack was stifled by the Houston defense as it blocked the shot and didn't allow the ball to go on net.

Noonan again created a scoring chance in the 80th minute when he fed Dorman down the right wing on a faked pass, allowing Dorman to make a surging, solo run from the midfield. Dorman dribbled around one defender and launched a shot from seven yards out that beat Onstad, but the shot went barely wide right.

The Revolution return to MLS action on Saturday, May 3, when the team travels to Washington, D.C., to face Eastern Conference leader D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. at RFK Stadium. WB56 will broadcast the game live, while both WRKO 680 AM (English) and WJDA 1300 AM (Spanish) will both carry the match over the air.

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