Seattle Sounders vs. Houston 1-1 Draw In Stoppage-Time After Controversial No-Goal

by Lindsey HorstingAugust 25, 2016, 1:30 pmNews >

The Seattle Sounders nearly lost to the worst team in the MLS Western Conference Wednesday Night in Houston. Seattle ended up scoring in the last minute of stoppage-time to sneak out with a 1-1 draw.

Seattle Sounders vs. Houston 1-1 Draw In Stoppage-Time After Controversial No-Goal

Dynamo midfielder, Andrew Wenger, gave Houston the lead in the 75th minute putting the Dynamo up 1-0. In the 84th minute the Sounders thought they scored to tie when midfielder Alvaro Fernandez hit a cross to forward Jordan Morris who was crashing towards the Houston goal.

Fernandez’s pass was deflected off Dynamo defender Raul Rodriguez and rolled past goalkeeper Joe Willis and what seemingly looked like it crossed the line into Houston’s goal. Willis reached back to scoop it out and the assistant referee called it a no-goal.

According to SoundersFC.com Morris said he thought the goal was good, but at game pace the difference was hard to determine by the referee. “Flaco got down the line and put the cross in and I thought it was coming to me, actually, but the guy got a little toe on it and I think it kind of wrong-footed the goalie,” Morris said. “From my angle, it looked like it went over the line. But obviously it was really close, so it’s tough for the AR to make that decision. It’ll be interesting to see on the replay.”

A picture from Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei posted a snapshot of the save on Instagram.

Pssst. It’s over the line! @mls

A photo posted by Stefan Frei (@therealstefan24frei) on Aug 24, 2016 at 10:24pm PDT

Seattle midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro put away the goal in the last minute of stoppage-time on a pass from defender Joevin Jones to get the draw.

The Seattle Sounders travelled to Houston to play the Dynamo Wednesday without forward Clint Dempsey or centre back Chad Marshall. The game in Houston was the Sounders’ second game of three in eight days. Seattle kicked off the eight days with a win against the Portland Timbers, a team they are one spot behind in the Western Conference standings. The Houston Dynamo are the last place team in the Western Conference at No. 10.

According to the Seattle Times Dempsey and Marshall were being sparred after a tough game on Sunday, Sounders interim coach Brian Schmetzer said. “Having just played an emotionally and physically challenging match on Sunday, we kept both players back in Seattle as a precautionary measure,” he said. “For us at this stage in the season, every game is a must-win game, and the expectation for the group in Houston tonight doesn’t change no matter who is on the field.”

The Sounders will see the Timbers again on Sunday August 28th in their third game in eight days.

HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 18: The starters for the Seattle Sounders FC pose on the field prior to the start of their game against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium on October 18, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)