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Higuain equalizer helps Crew in draw vs. Dynamo

ArrietaClarkCrewDynamo1 (ColumbusDispatch)

By DAN KARELL

For the second time in seven days, Federico Higuain nearly won the game on his own for the Columbus Crew.

Converting a penalty kick last Sunday against the Red Bulls to take a 2-1 lead at the time, on Saturday, Higuain scored another spot kick and had a curling shot hit the post and carom away, as the Crew to settled for a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night in front of 11,040 fans at Crew Stadium.

Two of Major League Soccer’s bright young talents combined in the opening goal for the Dynamo. On the counter-attack in the 31st minute, 22-year-old Kofi Sarkodie stormed down the right wing, centering the ball to 22-year-old Warren Creavalle, who sent in a one time finish past Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum.

Gruenebaum’s opposite number Tally Hall, on the U.S. Men’s National Team squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, proved his worth, stopping a long range effort from Higuain and close range effort from forward Jairo Arrieta, keeping his side in front. Will Bruin nearly gave the Dynamo a second, but Gruenebaum was up to the task, making three close saves before the ball was knocked out for a corner.

The Crew finally equalized after the Dynamo’s Andrew Driver took down Justin Meram inside the area, giving Higuain a chance to score from the spot in the 69th minute. The Argentine blasted the ball into the roof of the net, and then in the 74th minute he nearly ended the match with a far post curler that just ricocheted off the post.

A final cross over the head of Arrieta notwithstanding, both teams finished the game with the scoreline level, putting the Dynamo into third place and keeping the Crew outside of a playoff spot in sixth place.

Here are the match highlights:

Comments

  1. Meram wasn’t the one who was fouled for the penalty, it was Barson… who, BTW, was fantastic on his debut.

    And, yes, Warzycha needs to go. He’s unimaginative in his formation, predictable in his tactics and his subbing was atrocious.

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  2. Bobby Boswell is a solid player. He’s smart and puts himself in good positions. Unfortunately he lost his cool a few games ago and it’s cost us some points but the rest of the team has responded well considering the missing players from national team callups, injury, and suspensions.

    Bobby’s age is beginning to show at times which is why I’d like to see Eric Brunner and Jermaine Taylor start at centerback with Kofie Sarkodie on the right and Corey Ashe on the left. Toss in Andrew Driver on the left with Giles Barnes and Ricardo Clark in the middle and Boniek Garcia on the right and the Dynamo will compete for the Supporters Shield. Throw in a healthy and fit Calen Carr and Omar Cummings up top and Houston WINS the Supporters Shield and the 2013 MLS Cup. Have Brad Davis, Brian Ching, Warren Creavelle, Luiz Camargo and Will Bruin be SUPER-SUBS and Houston may not ever lose a game.

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  3. A lot of heart shown by the boys. Youngsters stepping up is always exciting. I would love to see Rico and JT start at centerback now when JT is healthy and let Boswell rot for a while for putting us in this position. Incredibly selfish and un-Dynamo-like.

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  4. I left a comment on the preview page. Robert left Williams out of the team and took his son as the extra player, starts all four defenders. Time for Robert to go and take Junior with him. SAF is available.,

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  5. We will take a point considering we fielded a C team at an away game. Jason Johnson looked good. When is Cummings coming back? (If ever?)

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    • Dynamo fan here. MLS teams aren’t deep enough to call any squad a C team. I’ll take the point, but I hate hearing the old “not our A team” crap… Especially from my fellow fans. The “C team” players are on the Dynamo roster too.

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