10-man Dynamo down Toronto FC

With just weeks until the end of the season both teams came in fighting to make the playoffs. It was a crazy night that saw the Dynamo play much of the game down a man but no matter how hard they tried Toronto couldn't seem to get past Tyler Deric.

The game saw the Dynamo kick things off in a 4-3-3 with Servando Carrasco and Andrew Driver playing for Boniek Garcia and Luis Garrido who are currently away playing for the Honduran National team.

The Dynamo had good chances early on the best coming at the feet of Giles Barnes. Barnes got away from the midfield and as Bendik was able to push the ball just out from goal he left the net empty, but there weren't any Dynamo players to finish the ball off.

A few minutes later another chance came as Brad Davis sent in a perfect cross to Omar Cummings. But Joe Bendik came up big once again and denied Cummings the goal. Ricardo Clark gave a try for the net with a long range shot, but Bendik continued to defend goal perfectly.

Toronto were not without chances. Jermain Defoe broke through and got around Tyler Deric who came out to stop him. DaMarucs Beasley came from behind to chase him down and block his shot. In the 29th minute it was almost Defoe again as he fired the ball past Kofi Sarkodie's legs. Luckily for the Dynamo he missed it wide by a few inches.

Giles Barnes put the Dynamo up in the 35th minute after he muscled through Hagguland and beat Bendik. This gave the team the early lead they had been looking for.

Toronto looked to level things on a corner kick a few minutes later, but Kofi Sarkodie came up with a big goal line clearance. The follow up attempt went wide for Toronto.

Despite a nervy minute just before the half that saw Toronto pushing for a goal the Dynamo were able to hold on 1-0 into the half.

Kyle Bekker kicked off the second half trying a shot from distance but Tyler Deric snuff out the try. The Dynamo came close to making it two early on. Andrew Driver crossed the ball to Brad Davis, but Davis was unable to get a good touch on it and sent the ball off the goal post.

Then things got crazy in a hurry.

Toronto started to push and as they got up to the box DaMarcus Beasley was all over Jackson's back, but the referee failed to call the penalty. Then moments later in the 55th minute AJ Cochran dragged down Moore in the box which the referee awarded a penalty kick for. The referee then took it one step further and red carded Cochran. It took 90 seconds of 'discussion' with the referee before Cochran left the field as Defoe stood over the ball waiting to take the penalty kick. Once Cochran left the field Defoe quickly took the kick going low and to his left. Dynamo goal keeper Tyler Deric dove down stretched out. He got a palm on the ball and pushed it out preserving the Dynamo's 1-0 lead.

Now up up a man Toronto started to get more chances at the net but Deric handled them all well. Moore sent in a header that Deric was able to push it off the bar. Moore came back at him again a few minutes later but this time his effort was wide. With each save you could see Deric's confidence grow as the saves got more spectacular  to the point that you could have Save of the Week nominations of just Tyler Deric highlights.

Second half sub De Rosario had a shot at goal but skied it in the face of Tyler Deric. The Houston Dynamo were awarded a free kick after Steven Caldwell and Barnes had some contact that saw Barnes end up on the ground. The ensuing free kick was taken by Driver, but the shot was easily saved by Bendik.

Things slowed down and the game reached stoppage time. Seven minutes of stoppage time. But little happened in that seven minutes. Toronto was awarded a free kick, but it was sent over the net. As time ticked down the Dynamo held on and won the game 1-0.

It was a great team effort all around, but no one played quite as hard or as amazingly as Tyler Deric. It was a night where you could just feel that nothing was getting past him and nothing did as he posted another shut out.

The win keeps the Dynamo's playoff hopes alive. The return to Houston to face DC United on Sunday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Lineups:

Houston Dynamo: Deric; Sarkodie, Horst, Cochran, Beasley; Clark, Carrasco, Davis © (83' Ownby); Cummings (58' Brunner), Barnes (97' Johnson), Driver

Toronto FC: Bendik, Bloom, Hagglund, Caldwell, Morrow (90' Lovitz), Jackson (80' De Rosario), Bekker (65' Oduro), Bradley, Osorio, Moore, Defoe