Houston, Toronto battle to one-all draw in MLS action

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 14, 2016) The Houston Dynamo, playing a man down in the second half, battled Toronto FC to a 1-all draw in Major League Soccer action at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on Sunday, August 14, 2016. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, August 13; however, it was postponed to Sunday due to heavy rain and lightning in the Gulf Coast area.

The Dynamo found pay dirt in the eighth minute when midfielder Cristian Maidana drives the ball down the right side and sent the ball into the goal from 10-meters out. It was his third goal of the season for Houston. Forwards Mauro Manotas and Andrew Wenger were credited with the assist.

Forward Jozy Altidore evened the score in the 24^th minute when he got the ball from forward Sebastian Giovinco at the top of the penalty box and drilled it past Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Wills for his third goal of the season.

In stoppage time of the first half, defender Abdoulie Mansally was issued a red card for pulling down Giovinco from behind. The sendoff was his first of the season. As a result of having to play the second half a man down, Houston interim head coach Wade Barrett pulled Wenger in favor of defender Raul Rodriguez.

Even with the Dynamo playing the entire second half a man down, they managed to hold off the Toronto offense for the draw. Houston will travel to San Jose for an August 19 matchup before returning to Houston to face Seattle on Wednesday, August 24.