The stage was set in El Salvador last night for the Houston Dynamo to punch their ticket to the CCL quarterfinals. Earlier in the evening, Pachuca had knocked off Arabe Unido 2-0, meaning three points would seal qualification and give MLS their second entrant in the next round.
But Isidro Metapan, the tiny club from Central America and winless in their previous five CCL matches -- having been outscored 17-0 in those games -- was out to play the spoiler. In the eighth minute, Houston found themselves already down 2-0, as two defensive mistakes by Eddie Robinson allowed Metapan to jump all over the visitors.
Houston wasn't going away that easily, and narrowed the deficit by a goal just minutes later from Geoff Cameron. Brian Ching played Cameron in behind the Metapan defense and the midfielder knocked in Houston's first goal of the game. The equalizer came under bizarre circumstances in first half stoppage time. Goalie Tally Hall knocked the ball long into the Metapan box, and when Brian Ching collided with Metapan's keeper, this allowed the ball to bounce into the net. Video of the goal is after the jump.
Hall's goal would stand as the ref ruled a fair challenge by the U.S. striker. However, the tie would last just 10 minutes into the second half, when Metapan grabbed the game winner. Emerson Umana scored off a deflected free kick, and Houston couldn't make a final push to
What did you think of last night's game? Surprised to see another goalie score? Should it have been a foul on Ching? Disappointed to see Houston crash out?
Share your thoughts below.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer writer/columnist for FoxSoccer.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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