Houston Wins the Handicap Match

By: Dave Martinez | June 1st, 2008

Houston was missing DeRosario, Onstad, and Robinson. New York? Oh we had Juan Pablo Angel out with a virus, Claudio Reyna out, Dave Van Den Bergh delivering a baby (congrats Dave!), and Hunter Freeman riding the bench.

If Vegas cared, this would have been a bettors nightmare.

With a depleted lineup, Osorio set the team in a 4-4-2, and decided to go the defensive, play for the tie route. And facing a Houston attack that was also greatly diminished, the orange at times made it look like an MLS squad going against a high school JV.

But even with this defensive scheme in place, Osorio was one call away from taking home a point – that is, if Wolyniecs call would have been in the box for a PK instead of called outside. Instead, the route was taken to make a late game substitution of Hunter Freeman for Jon Wolyniec? Kind of showing your cards before your first bet.

So a well deserved 1-0 loss away is what the Bulls earned. A shame too. Tony Caig was in net.

MAN OF THE MATCH

I will admit, I did goat Conway a bit last week, but this game could have been far worse without him between the pipes. He showed up, and let in a goal that was not even his fault. For those that do not have HDTV, you missed a great performance between the sticks, but not much else.

TURNING POINT OF THE MATCH

The turning point in this match happened between the Jon Wolyniec none – penalty kick call, and the Freeman for Wolyniec exchange. Not that the energy was on high or anything, but the Red Bulls were clearly showing the other team that the tie was all they were playing for. Within minutes, they paid the price.

WHAT THE ?!?!?! MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Danleigh Borman shanked a breakaway. That hurt. Bad.

SPECIAL ED PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Look, to single out one player would be unfair. But I will say that two thirds of the pitch just looked silly out there – the midfielders and the forwards. I know we have some key missing people, but those giveaways were ridiculous, teetering on amateur.

Its Chivas next week – another “trap” game. If ever there was a time a statement game was needed, this is it.