The Dynamo looked to earn 3 points at home but was forced to settle for 1 point at BBVA Compass Stadium against the Chicago Fire Saturday night. The 1-1 draw shows to Dynamo fans that perhaps we're not quite out of the woods yet as finishing continues to be an issue. Cam Weaver scored his first goal of the season in the 61st minute. Weaver's goal was the first scored by a Dynamo forward in league play since May 8th, a game in which they scored 3 of the 4 goals against DC United. The Dynamo's moment of joy was spoiled less than 2 minutes later by the relentless Mike Magee.
Dynamo fans held their breath as Andrew Driver, a key player throughout the year, went down with a right Achilles injury in the 14th minute. News about his injury is slowly coming out and we'll have more information about it as it becomes available. The Chicago Fire were also forced to make an early substitution due to injury to Brazilian midfielder Alex.
One of the biggest controversies of the game came before the half in the 18th minute when Corey Ashe picked out Bobby Boswell. Boswell headed the ball into the far corner of the goal, only to have the goal immediately called back for being offside. Center official Ricardo Salazar didn't win over any more Dynamo fans as Dynamo stalwart Brad Davis, who replaced Driver, was likely fouled twice in succession in the 22nd minute.
In the dying minutes of the first half, a poor pass backwards to Fire goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi saw Weaver attempt to slot it into the net, however Tornaghi wasn't caught flat footed and was quicker to the ball. Both teams went to the locker rooms after a very physical first half with the Dynamo having more chances but nothing to show for it except an offside goal.
The second half was a more of the same until Weaver and Magee exchanged goals. Weaver's goal saw a beautiful cross from Moffat that found Corey Ashe on the left. Ashe threaded a ball to Davis who beat his man with a single touch and he found Weaver for the goal. Magee's goal began with Ashe losing the ball to Patrick Nyarko, who then drove in a low cross to Magee, who beat Kofi Sarkodie and tapped the shot home.
After these goals both teams were hungry and pushed for chances on goal. Warren Creavalle came on in the 69th minute and helped push the ball into space and he nearly chipped the Fire keeper as well. Both teams had chances, and both teams missed. Chris Rolfe forced Tally Hall to make a difficult save in the 76th minute while the next minute Giles Barnes fired a shot right at Tornaghi. Rookie Jason Johnson nearly broke through in the 83rd minute, but his shot was also right at the keeper.
The draw puts the Dynamo in 6th place in the Eastern Conference. They are level with New England in points, 30, but do not have the tie-breaker advantage. The match wrapped up a successful month of July, the Dynamo going 3-0-1 in all competitions. Next up is the Columbus Crew on Saturday August 3rd at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Crew sit 2 places below the Dynamo at 23 points and will look to come back after a late 2-1 loss to Toronto FC.
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Dynamo, Chicago Fire exchange blows, battle to 1-1 draw
The Dynamo battled to a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire with goals coming from Cam Weaver and Mike Magee.