Referee the Talking Point in KC Draw with Houston

Last night was what you'd expect from KC game, a rough, tight game with a number of fouls, cards, and even a red card. It also had it's fair share of controversy through out the game and especially at the end of the game when a hand ball in the box was not called. Referee Jorge Gonzalez had a less than stellar night overall, but the think he'll most be remembered for will be the missed hand ball in the box by Luis Garrido in second half stoppage time.

KC jumped out to an early lead though in just the 6th minute. Off of a Benny Feilhaber free kick, the ball floated into the box where Dom Dwyer got his head on the ball, flicking it into the far corner out of reach of Tyler Deric. Trailing, Houston started to push the game more and for a moment thought they had a penalty kick in the 11th minute. A ball got played in behind KC's defense that Will Bruin ran onto. Bruin raced into the box with Matt Besler trailing. Bruin tried to round Tim Melia but the KC goalkeeper got down well and got his hand on the ball knocking it away before jumping on it. At first Gonzalez whistled the play a penalty kick for the Dynamo, but after consulting with his assistant waived the penalty off. The Dynamo continued to press the game looking for an equalizer. Brad Davis forced a good save out of Melia in the 32nd minute as he hit a strong shot from distance that Melia pushed away and then collected the rebound. KC was able to weather the pressure and head into half time up 1-0, but not before Dwyer picked up his fifth yellow card of the season after he challenged Deric for a ball in the air. Dwyer will now miss next week's game against Toronto.

KC attempted to make some adjustments at half time and came out better to start the second. They should have had a second in the 57th minute when Roger Espinoza got played in behind the Houston defense. Espinoza dribbled into the box, but before he could get a shot off, David Horst came sliding in and saved the chance. Minutes later, Dwyer had a good opportunity to make it 2-0, but off a cross from Feilhaber Dwyer missed it with his head and it went off his shoulder and wide of the goal. The failure to capitalize on those chances came back to bite KC in the 78th minute. Off a Davis free kick, Ricardo Clark out jumped Dwyer and headed the ball past Melia to tie the game at 1-1. In the 86th minute, KC picked up a man advantage, after losing the ball near midfield, Dynamo midfielder, Nathan Sturgis' tried to win it back going into a sliding challenge on Espinoza, sliding through Espinoza who had his feet planted. Gonzalez had no hesitation, immediately going to his back pocket and pulling out a red card. KC pushed forward more looking to find a winner and many thought they had in stoppage time as Feilhaber floated a ball into the box for Krisztian Nemeth who volleyed the ball into the net, but the goal was correctly ruled out due to Nemeth being offside. In the 4th minute of stoppage time came the hand ball incident. Off a Besler long throw the ball went all the way through where substitute Garrido was. The ball bounced up and hit Garrido's arm. Gonazlez immediately waived off any penalty shouts and motioned like the ball had hit Garrido's hip, not his arm. Gonzalez stood by that assessment immediately after the game telling both Besler and Peter Vermes that this was the reason that he didn't call the hand ball. But after the game, once the KC pool reporter was able to ask his three questions and one follow up, Gonzalez said that the handling was not deliberate, and his arm was judged to have been in a natural playing position.

Wizards Man of the Match - Benny Feilhaber - Continues to be the difference maker that KC needs. A great free kick set up the goal and could have had another assist or two with some better finishing.

Player Ratings - Melia 6, Dia 5, Ellis 5, Besler 5, Myers 5, Mustivar 5, Espinoza 6, Feilhaber 7, Zusi 4, Dwyer 5, Nemeth 5. Subs Abdul-Salaam 5, Nagamura NR, Peterson NR.