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De Rosario nets Dynamo draw with FC Dallas

May 29, 2008 - 5:11 AM By Ken Costlow PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FRISCO, Texas (Ticker) -- Of the 13 other teams in Major League Soccer, no one frustrates FC Dallas more than their intrastate rival, the Houston Dynamo.

Dwayne De Rosario banged in a stoppage-time rebound shot to salvage a 2-2 draw for the Dynamo at Pizza Hut Park. The result kept FC Dallas from picking up their first win over Houston since the 2006 season.

Drew Moor headed in a corner kick from eight yards in front of the goal to give FC Dallas to a 2-1 lead, but the late goal prevented FC Dallas' first win over Houston since a 1-0 victory on September 2, 2006.

Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said his team had been road-weary coming into the contest, but managed to catch a second wind in the second half that carried them to the draw. The Dynamo had drawn with FC Dallas, 3-3, on April 6 on a late Geoff Cameron goal.

"It was a pretty emotional game for both teams, as it always is," Kinnear said. "(FC Dallas) probably had better play in the first half, but there were chances to go around. The second half was a little bit of us pushing forward.

"I give our guys credit for their drive and determination to keep on pushing forward. We've got two ties with FC Dallas because of it."

FC Dallas (3-3-4) gained sole possesion of second place in the Western Conference with the draw, while Houston (2-3-5) moved even with Chivas USA for fourth place in the West.

FC Dallas interim coach Marco Ferruzzi said he saw several positives from his squad, including confidence that they haven't always displayed against Houston.

"We put them under a lot of pressure, the goals were very good and there was some very good possession," Ferruzzi said. "Houston is a veteran team, but the boys that came on did a great job. They worked very hard and had some opportunities to put the game away, but we didn't.

We'll go back, review and figure out ways to get better."

The game was marred by a brief skirmish in the 80th minute that resulted in the ejection of FC Dallas' Andre Rocha with a straight red card and a second-yellow ejection for Houston's Eddie Robinson. Marcelo Saragosa also was booked after the melee.

De Rosario's goal came as a result of a rebound off the post on an initial header by Brian Ching. Ching's header attempt came off a long pass from Corey Ashe, a halftime substitute for Brian Mullen.

"We kept our composure, kept plugging away and finally came away with a result," De Rosario said. "(Ching) and I have played together since we were in San Jose and I know him well. I had an idea what he was going to try to do, and when the ball came off the crossbar, I was hoping it would come to me."

With the Dynamo a goal down just before the hour mark, DeRosario sent a long pass over to Ching in front. Ching chested the ball before sending a short pass over to Ashe, who scored from the left post to level the score at 1-1.

On a restart in the 35th minute, Pablo Ricchetti sent a long ball from the right sideline over to Kenny Cooper. Cooper controlled the ball and sent a right-footed shot from 15 yards out past Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad and into the right corner of the goal.

In the closing minutes of the first half, the Dynamo had two chances at the equalizer, but Richard Mulrooney's long blast was deflected by FCD goalkeeper Dario Sala, and Robinson misplayed an opportunity at the right post.

Cooper then fired wide of the right post just before the halftime whistle.

Sala wound up with three saves on the five shots he faced, while Onstad saved one of the three FC Dallas attempts at his goal. Sala also was booked in the 74th minute for time-wasting.