Hey, It’s A Point: RBNY 0 – Houston 0

By: Dave Martinez | April 12th, 2009

Ugly? Yes. But the Bulls will take a point on road with a physical nil nil draw. Rome wasn’t built in a day folks. And even if the Bulls starting keeper fell to a concussion, they suffered another red card and yet another goaless game, they can take a few lessons out of this one.

Let’s run through the highlights and lowlights:

First off, Danny Cepero suffered a concussion after a devastating collision with Kei Kamara. Though Houston was playing physically all game (and a bit dirty), this accidental slam was probably the nastiest thing you saw the entire night (until that Ching breakaway of course). And it also makes a moot point of my weekend poll.

Second, we all got a great look today at both Carlos Johnson and Albert Celades. Johnson is extremely physical, takes the game with great seriousness, has a sick throw in and shows alot of passion on the pitch. It is an aweful shame that Johnson picked up a red. Really marred an almost perfect debut. Albert Celades, in a brief appearance, didn’t have all the opportunity to show his skill, but was composed on the ball with a natural instinct you would expect from a Liga vet.

Third, another defensive centerback tandem was established today, with some success to boot; Goldthwaite and Boyens. Both men held down the fort for rookie keeper Alec Dufty, limiting Houstons chances, with the help of the defensive mids.

And speaking of which, it was nice to see both Stammler and Pietravallo making appearances after a long lay off, and performing their rolls in shutting out the Dynamo. Both men had some errant passes, but did their job in disrupting the midfield. Of course, ‘Vallo picked up a yellow (as did Stammler). But his performance was a vast improvement on his first appearance.

Overall, it is a point folks. And with all the bad things that befell the team, you would figure they would fold like a cheap chair. Instead, they stood up to the challenge, and further frustrated a Dynamo team that must have felt this game was gift wrapped for them.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Alec Dufty. Rarely tested, but when he was, he came up big. He even scared Brian Ching on a breakaway. Great debut for the third stringer.

WHAT THE &$^# MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Brian Ching sending a ball flying into Orbit on a wide open breakaway against a third string keeper who wasn’t even prepared to play today. Ouch.

GOAT: Khano Smith. Perhaps it’s a lack of communication with his new teammates, or a reluctance on his part to make a play, but Smith has been more inclined to kick a one touch ball behind the mid mark to high heaven than doing anything at all. The left side attack was a major factor in the non-existant offense this evening, creating an opportunity for the Dynamo defense to routinely double team Dane Richards, nullifying his game. There needs to be a more dangerous look on the left side. If not, the Bulls attack will continue to look rather one dimensional and repetitive.

Image: (AP Photo/Bob Levey)