Liveblog of CCC Semifinal #2

Welcome to tonight's liveblog of the first leg of the semifinal match between Houston Dynamo and Deportivo Saprissa.  Tonight's match will be at Robertson Stadium in Houston.  You can find previews of the match at the Houston Chronicle, and a late update with probable lineups at the Chronicle's soccer blog.  A preview from Costa Rica's Nacion paper can be found here.

The Saprissa delegation got held up at the Houston airport for a couple of hours because the name of one of their players matched one on "the list".  Expect that to get some play in the Costa Rican press. 

The crowd at Robertson is sparse, but the Dynamo supporters should make it noisy.

Saprissa will play 3-5-2; Houston most likely a 4-4-2.  Ricardo Clark in the holding midfield position is an important addition for the Dynamo; hopefully he'll show what the Dynamo needed in the CONCACAF semis last year.  Alonso is the player up front to watch for Saprissa.

• First half. Saprissa kicks off and away we go!  The referee is Courtney Campbell of Jamaica.
• I have to mention that Mr. Moreno was competent last night -- I disagreed with him on the no-call on the penalty late in the second half, but not with much else.
• 2': Ching makes a fine turn on the right side of the penalty area and fires a hard shot that hits the side netting and frame.
• 9':  Another great chance as Caraccio sends a cross from the right and it rolls between Ching's legs and DeRosario takes a strike but is blocked.  Dynamo appear to be having success on the right flank.
• 15': Saprissa's first dangerous moment as Alonso comes flying into the penalty area.  He bumps shoulders with Barrett and falls down, but no penalty.  That run came from the center, which was exposed over and over by Gamba Osaka.
• 17': Houston comes back with a corner...Mulrooney finds Robinson, but his header is deflected over the bar.
• 19': Now another corner from Houston, Boswell makes a strong header by saved well by Navas.
• 20': Houston have had more opportunities so far, but that defensive line looks fragile.  Saprissa will get a couple of chances before tonight is done.
• 23':  And Saprissa put on a counterattack and get support from two surging midfielders.  The through ball is a little long, but Onstad has to hurry to get it cleared away.
• 28': The camera work is better in this match than last night's.  It's a wider view of the
• 29':  Great cross from Ashe on the left, but the header by Ching fell wide of the far post.  So close, but Ching had a great chance there.
• 30':  Saprissa counter and Núñez takes a stinging drive from the left that Onstad parries away for a corner.
• 31': And now Dynamo get a huge opportunity -- DeRosario is found in the middle and lays it off for Ching, but his shot is blocked by a charging Navas.  Lots of action so far!
• Ten minutes to halftime and still no goals.  Houston's playing well, but this is all very good news for Saprissa.
• 39': Bretos just mentioned Costa Rica's Drummond brothers (Jervis, who plays for Saprissa, and Gerald who plays for Herediano) - "the most famous Drummond brothers since Willis and Arnold".  Wha'chu talkin' bout, Willis?
• 42': The Dynamo have some good movement, but the timing on their passes and combinations is off.  It will get better as the MLS season progresses, but not in time for this tournament.
• 45'+1: We're into stoppage time now.  Don't know how much time will be added.
• 45'+2:  What a chance for Houston!  Clark slices the back line open with a pass to Caraccio on the right, whose cross finds a streaking Ashe on the left, but his shot hits the side netting.

Halftime:  Houston Dynamo 0-0 Saprissa.  An entertaining match; both teams have chances to score and win.  The Dynamo will definitely want to score at least two  in order to feel good about the away leg.

Dynamo really need to firm up that back line; Saprissa will want to keep Houston on their heels.  0-0 would be a fantastic result for them.

• Second half.  Dynamo kick off - no changes for either team.
• 50': End-to-end action in the first five minutes of the half.  That was a good cross from Ianni on the right side, but Caraccio was well shielded by Drummond.
• 55': And now the Dynamo are starting to enjoy more of the possession, but that Saprissa defense closes in faster than the Dynamo can put passes together.
• 59':  You know, I'm thinking that "World" Soccer Daily host Steven Cohen's criticism of MLS as being too slow has some merit.  With some quicker exchanges and runs off the ball the Dynamo may have scored by now.
• 60': DeRosario turns Padilla inside out on the right with a beautiful pirouette, and his cross is turned over the line by Drummond for a corner.
• 65':  Ohhh woww!!!!  Clark redirects a bouncing ball over the Saprissa defense to Caraccio, who pokes a foot out, but the ball floats just over the crossbar.  Caraccio has his head in his hands and who can blame him!
• 66': And again Caraccio is through, sent in by Mulrooney, but Navas saves the ball at the Argentine's feet.
• The Dynamo really need a goal...it might come, but it may not the way things are going.
• 69': Another breakaway run by Caraccio who goes all the way to the end line, too far to make a quality shot on goal but Navas deflects for a corner.
• 70':  Yellow card to Houston's Boswell.  Not quite sure why.  First yellow card of the match by the way.
• 71':  Saprissa are enjoying some sustained possession now, their first since the start of the second half.
• 73': I think Navas and Drummond have been excellent for Saprissa tonight.  They have been in the right locations at the right times.
• 75': Saprissa substitution.  Bryan Jiménez for Gabriel Badilla.
• 75': Houston substitution.  Geoff Cameron for Richard Mulrooney.
• 77': I'm agreeing with the FSC commentators -- Bobby Boswell has been excellent tonight.
• 79': A cross from Ashe on the left finds Ching alone in the middle of the box, but his effort is wide of the near post. 
• 80': Houston substitution.  Chris Wondolowski for Gabriel Caraccio.
• Ten minutes to go...Dynamo may score, and they may not.  Not good.
• 81': Saprissa substitution.  Michael Barrantes for Armando Alonso.  FSC's saying that it's their third sub; I didn't catch the first one.
• 82': Finally an attacking free kick for the Dynamo!  It's flicked on and blocked by Navas, deflected out to Wondolowski, who lays it off for Clark but his long-distance shot is wide of the far post. 
• 85': Now a couple of corners for Saprissa, a rare foray upfield in the second half.  Dynamo have had the run of play, but Saprissa have the result.
• 88': With a couple of exceptions, Mr. Campbell has been good.  Just gave a yellow to Saprissa's Barrantes.
• 89': Cameron doesn't give the pass "enough lift" (as Bretos puts it).  What a drag...
• Stoppage time here we come.  Three minutes to be added.  Are any goals forthcoming?
• 90'+2:  What a chance!!  DeRosario finds Ching alone in the box on the right side, but Ching's diving effort pops the ball over the bar.  You just have to convert those at this level. 
• This has been a frustrating effort for the Dynamo.  And there's one minute of stoppage time remaining.
• 90'+3:  Another goalmouth scramble by the Dynamo is blocked away by the Saprissa defenders massed in the box.  And Barrantes, leading a counter, fires a shot that Onstad has to dive and save.  What a match!!

Full time.  Houston 0-0 Saprissa.   An exciting match with end-to-end action and thrilling goalmouth action, but with a frustrating outcome for the Houston Dynamo.  Saprissa will be thrilled with the result...and now, it's time for the Dynamo to enter Hell.