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Dynamo, Fire settle for draw in shortened match

Apr 16, 2012 - 2:55 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire settled for a 1-1 draw Sunday night at Toyota Park in a Major League Soccer game called in the 66th minute due to lightning and heavy rain.

Will Bruin scored on Houston's only shot on goal in the 24th minute, and Logan Pause deflected a free kick into the net in the 27th for Chicago's lone score, as the clubs sat through a first-half delay before the second ended the game.

Houston (2-1-1) had been idle since March 23, when it suffered its only defeat of the season against Seattle Sounders FC, 2-0. But the Dynamo bounced back to earn a point on the road, giving them seven through four away matches.

Chicago (1-1-2) also returned from time off, as the Fire had been idle since a 2-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids on April 1.

Houston and Chicago made it just 13 minutes into the match before the initial delay, which was caused by lightning. After 70 minutes, the match resumed and goals followed.

Brian Ching put Bruin through into the left side of the box in the 24th and he finished to the near post past Sean Johnson, who was making his first start of the season for Chicago.

Houston's lead vanished just minutes later, as Pavel Pardo drove a free kick into the area that Pause - who was in the wall - ducked to get under, but the ball skipped off his back and floated over Tally Hall and just under the bar.

The match stayed tied into the second half and a second lightning delay halted the game after 66 minutes and the fixture was later called, but the draw is an official result.

Houston will continue its seven-match road trip April 21 at the Columbus Crew. Chicago, which debuted former German international Arne Friedrich, returns to action April 21 at Toronto FC.