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Sounders' Jaqua delivers 1-1 tie at Dynamo

Aug 24, 2009 - 4:17 AM By JEREMY RAKES STATS MLS Correspondent

HOUSTON (STATS) ??? Nate Jaqua continues to haunt his former team.

The ex-Dynamo forward scored in the 70th minute to give Seattle a point in Houston and move the Sounders into a tie for third place in the Western Conference with a 1-1 draw against the Dynamo on Sunday night.

Jaqua tied the score after taking a cross from Steve Zakuani and hitting it into the right side for his first goal since scoring two against Colorado on June 28.

"We created a lot of good things," Jaqua said. "It would have been tough if we didn't get out of here with at least a point, and we almost got out of here with three points. They're a good team, and it shows a lot for us to come back and battle back from a goal down.

"It helps on the road and we have to keep going. It's nice to get a point, but we need to get some wins and we need to get some points to get us up in the table a little ways. So the next game is a big game for us, but every game is a big game for us."

Jaqua also scored the tying goal against Houston on July 21 in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup to send the game to extra time where Seattle eventually won 2-1. This year Jaqua has two goals and an assist in three contests against Houston. He made 29 appearances for the Dynamo before Seattle took him in the expansion draft.

Geoff Cameron scored his first goal of the season in the 36th minute, but the Dynamo couldn't hold off their former teammate. Cameron scored on Brad Davis's direct kick from 35 yards out, heading the ball in from the top of the box.

"We wanted to come out with three points tonight, so that's disappointing, but there was miscommunication on their goal and that is what it comes down to," Cameron said. "I think we are a better team overall, but they really put on the pressure and they create havoc for us.

"I thought we controlled the game, more opportunities, more combinations plays, but one relapse in the game, and you see what happens. You just can't have those mistakes against them, and that is what it comes down to."

Houston (11-6-7) extended its unbeaten streak to three and regained sole possession of the MLS lead over Columbus by a point. The Dynamo also extended their lead over Los Angeles in the West to five points.

"It was a tough game, and I think a draw is pretty fair," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "We have a lot of respect for how they play, they make it really difficult and they close down the space pretty well. I think if we were a little sharper in the final third, we really could have helped ourselves out.

"They kind of caught us napping on the goal, but Zakuani missed a decent chance. We've played them three times, and they have all been closely contested games. They are a tough team to play. Getting a point is nothing to be disappointed about, but it is tough to lose the lead."

Seattle (8-6-9) is even with Chivas USA at 33 points.

The Sounders, though, missed several chances to possibly get a win. Freddie Ljungberg had what looked like a sure goal in the fourth minute kicked out by Houston's Wade Barrett at the goal line.

Jaqua had a goal called back in the 47th minute for being offsides, and Zakuani had a shot at a wide open net go over the cross bar just minutes before Jaqua's equalizer.

All that aside, Seattle was happy to get the point.

"For us, I was really proud of our team from the standpoint of coming down here and playing a really good team and missing those chances, even the first one with Barrett saving Ljungberg's shot off the line and going down 1-0, and missing chances, and not losing heart and continuing to battle," coach Sigi Schmid said.

"Then a goal called back offsides and then still continuing to fight and eventually getting the equalizer so that is something I am really proud of."

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Information from: STATS LLC, http://www.stats.com.