Dynamo play San Francisco to scoreless draw

Houston opens Champions League play in Panama

Houston's Geoff Cameron (L) fights San Francisco's Angel Lombardo for possession. (AP Photo)

The Dynamo were originally set to open CONCACAF Champions League group play last Wednesday, but damage from Hurricane Ike forced a match against CD Luis Angel Firpo at Robertson Stadium to be postponed until Nov. 26, three days after MLS Cup 2008.

It was Houston's first game of a stretch that will see it play its next four matches in four countries over the course of 12 days.

In a match played at Estadio Rod Carew, the same venue where Chivas USA was downed by Tauro FC 2-0 in the qualifying stages on Aug. 26, the hosts had the more dangerous chances in the opening 45 minutes.

The best came off a Manuel Torres free kick from the left side that was flicked off the crossbar in the 39th minute. The rebound fell to Santiago De Alba, but the Colombian defender's attempt was knocked away for a corner kick.

Zapata was San Francisco's most active attacking player in the first half. The Panamanian forward was freed to goal by Temistocles Perez's flick, but after taking a touch into the box, Zapata was forced outside by defender Bobby Boswell and put his attempt from 15 yards out wide of the near post in the 25th minute.

Two minutes later the Dynamo nearly scored, but Geoff Cameron's attempt back across the face of goal just missed the far post.

Just before the half hour mark, Zapata again tested Onstad, who was forced to dive to his right to parry away a half-volley from just outside the 18-yard box.

As the match moved into the second half, tempers flared on both sides with several skirmishes breaking out as the rain began to fall. In one, Temistocles Perez took a swipe at Onstad, although there were no bookings.

With a busy fixture list over the next two weeks, Houston coach Dominic Kinnear rested regular starters Dwayne De Rosario and Brian Ching against San Francisco.

Kinnear made his first move in the 59th minute, bringing on Brian Mullan for Cameron. Ching then came off the bench for Nate Jaqua in the 71st minute. Four minutes later, De Rosario stepped on the field as Houston's final substitution, replacing Kamara with a quarter-hour remaining.

San Francisco, which advanced to the group stage after defeating Guatemalan side Deportivo Jalapa 6-0 on aggregate, temporarily sit atop Group B with two points. Pumas UNAM, who have one point along with Houston, will meet CD Luis Angel Firpo of El Salvador on Wednesday night in Mexico City.

Next stop for Houston will be BMO Field, where Houston will take on Toronto FC Saturday in league play. Then it is south of the border for a meeting with Pumas UNAM Sept. 30 in Mexico City in another Champions League match.

Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.

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