Dynamo downed by 10-man Red Bulls
New York's Clint Mathis might have been Dynamo's MVP in the first half - missing a penalty kick in the 11th minute and getting sent off in the 36th for a studs-up challenge on Houston defender Ryan Cochrane.
New York was clearly the better team during the opening 45 minutes, with Red Bulls captain Claudio Reyna - making his home debut after sitting out last week with a deep thigh bruise - controlling play and repeatedly spraying dangerous balls out to wingers Dave van den Bergh and Dane Richards from his central midfield spot.
Houston left back Wade Barrett had a tough time dealing with the lightning speed of rookie Richards on several occasions early, and 10 minutes in that matchup created the game's first real scoring chance.
Reyna began the play by springing Richards after a Houston turnover. With the Dynamo defenders scrambling to get back into position, Richards sent in a cross that was earmarked for a streaking Altidore. Seeing the danger, Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario jumped and batted down the ball with both hands extended above his head.
De Rosario might have been lucky to receive only a caution from referee Baldomero Toledo, but the Canadian's gamble paid off when 'keeper Pat Onstad dove to his right to smother Mathis' feeble spot kick.
Paul Dalglish and Alejandro Moreno started up top for Dynamo, with coach Dominic Kinnear not wanting to risk U.S. international Brian Ching - who had offseason knee surgery - on the Giants Stadium FieldTurf.
The pair was starting together for the first time this year and the lack cohesion was obvious early - combining for five offside calls in the initial stanza. The Dynamo was offense clearly missed Ching, who scored the club's only goal of 2007 last week in a 1-0 victory against Chivas USA.
Even after the Mathis red card, the youngest player on the field was also the most dangerous. The 17-year-old Altidore had two good opportunities to open the scoring for the home side on either side of halftime, but fired over the bar from close range on both occasions.
However, Altidore made no mistake on his third chance at goal. In the 60th minute, Hunter Freeman - starting his second game as Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena's new right back - found Altidore with his back to goal at the top of the Houston penalty area. In a flash, Altidore turned Houston center back Eddie Robinson, took a touch and blasted past Onstad.
After the goal, Houston used the extra space to move the ball around and forced three saves from New York 'keeper Ronald Waterreus.
But second half New York sub Seth Stammler did a good job marking Dynamo danger man De Rosario in the midfield. De Rosario began drifting out wide to compensate, but couldn't produce anything of substance, even when Ching finally made an appearance 20 minutes from time.
Dynamo had a final chance came one minute from full time, but second half substitute Richard Mulrooney put his low shot from 16 yards out wide of Waterreus. In the second minute of stoppage time, De Rosario headed a corner kick wide of the net.
Doug McIntyre is a contriburor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
);){kind=link}