It was a cool Saturday night in Chester, PA as Philadelphia took on the Houston Dynamo. However, neither team would find the back of the net and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Philadelphia high pressed throughout the first half causing numerous turnovers by Houston, however Philadelphia's defense pushed up at times leading to several close calls with as Omar Cummings could not seem escape the offside trap. Commentator Tony Limarzi stated the reasoning behind said tactic was an attempt to cause rookie Tyler Deric in goal discomfort on the ball.

Philadelphia managed to get their first shot off very early in the match as Maidana's chipped ball into the box found Casey, in the 3rd minute but his shot was just blocked by Beasley. Maidana and Casey would link up again in the 6th minute, when Maidana whipped a cross in from the left to Casey but he hit it just wide of goal.

Houston would get forward well on several occasions such as when Garrido's ball in behind the Philadelphia defense found Barnes in the 8th minute, but Philadelphia did well to play the offside trap and then again in the 16th minute when Cummings's shot was saved by M'Bohli following a late offside call after Cummings got on the end of Driver's long driven pass up field and past the Philadelphia defense.

Houston would have another chance at goal in the 20th minute when Barnes cut in from the left and drove in a shot, but he missed the goal by inches. Then, seconds later Philadelphia was on the counter as Maidana's cross almost caused problems for Deric as it almost unintentionally found the back of the net, but the resulting corner was headed out by a Houston defender.

Connor Casey had perhaps the best chance of the half for Philadelphia, when Sebastian Le Toux was found by Maidana in the box, his cross was blocked and fell to Casey but his shot was blocked by an on rushing Horst and went over the bar.

It was ended to end stuff in the 36th minute as Cummings, causing problems for Philadelphia again had his shot blocked by Williams, only for Philadelphia to have an opportunity on the fast break with Maidana laying off the ball to Casey in the box, but he shot straight at Deric.

Then, in the 45th minute plus two minutes of added time, with the last action of the first half right back Sheanon Williams flung a cross into the box which was met by the head of Sebastian Le Toux but his header landed straight into the arms of Tyler Deric as the whistle blew for half time.

The Union got off to a great start in the second half as just 30 seconds into the half Andrew Wenger drove in from the left, dribbling and beating several defenders and curled a shot that Casey almost got a toe onto, only to be saved by rookie Tyler Deric.

Wenger would continue to terrorize Kofi Sarkodie on the right side of Houston's defense as he shimmied down the left hand side in the 52nd minute, but his cross went straight to the arms of Deric, a common theme on the night.

The Union would then earn a corner in the 57th minute following another brilliant run from Andrew Wenger. He drove down the left side, dribbling at several defenders, went straight through the center splitting Houston's center backs, only to be crowded out just before he got his shot off. Wenger again caused havoc in the 59th minute as he sprinted down the left, his cross found Casey but Casey's shot was cleared off the line. 

Things began to break down offensively in the 61st minute for Philadelphia as Pedro Ribiero came on for Connor Casey, and just a minute later Houston earned a corner after Beasley's cross was nodded out by Valdes, the corner led to a scramble in the box but Wenger managed to clear the ball out of danger. Clark would then let one rip from distance as M'Bohli got a hand to it, but Ribiero cleared the corner out of danger.

Edu would find Le Toux from center back in the 69th minute with a long ball over the top, but Le Toux could not keep his shot down as it flew over the bar.

Just a minute later in the 70th minute, Maidana cleared a ball off the line of the post as Davis' corner found the head of a Houston player.

The ever dangerous Omar Cummings would pop up in the box in the 76th minute, but his shot skimmed Gaddis for a corner.

The Union may have had a legitimate penalty call denied in the 84th minute when Cochrane took out Le Toux's legs in the box and got very little of the ball.

Philadelphia would have the last opportunity of the game, as Ribiero was found in the box by Nogueira in the 90th minute plus 4 minutes of added time, but his shot went wide as he was put off slightly by a tackle from a Houston defender as the final whistle blew.

For Philadelphia, the draw puts them in 5th place, the last remaining playoff spot for the time being, however given the number of chances they had they will likely feel disappointed not to have won the game. They face Eastern Conference leaders, DC United on September 27 at RFK Stadium. 

As for Houston, they were fortune to get away with the draw and will be hoping for 3 points against the Chicago Fire on September 28 at BBVA Compass Stadium as they also chase the final remaining playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. 

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