The Major League Soccer playoffs began on Thursday, October 29, 2009 with the Seattle Sounders FC hosting the Houston Dynamo. It was a sold-out and very loud crowd of 36,000 at Qwest Field in Seattle for the match. Here’s a full recap of the match along with video highlights.

Seattle Sounders FC draw with the Houston Dynamo 0-0 – Video Highlights

1st Half

Houston had the first great chance of the match as Stuart Holden sent a corner into the box and Andrew Hainault headed the ball just wide of goal. Seattle returned a few minutes later with Steve Zakuani getting behind the defense but his shot was saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad.

It was a very quick start to the match with a very loud crowd and favorable weather conditions (54 degrees at kickoff). Both teams got chances and the Dynamo had a perfect chance to take the lead as Holden sent a cross into the box for Brad Davis. The Dynamo player was completely unmarked in the penalty box and missed it wide. It was a great chance but Davis failed to get it on goal.

It was about even for through the first 10 minutes as both teams had chances but it remained 0-0. As the first half progressed, Seattle started to get some momentum utilizing the speed of Zakuani on the left wing. Seattle almost took the lead in the 14th minute as a header by Patrick Ianni off a corner kick was cleared off the line by Houston defender Brian Mullan. It had beaten the goalkeeper Onstad.

A few moments later after a Sounders corner kick, some pushing and shoving broke out. Onstad and Fredy Montero received yellow cards. After the corner went out of play, Onstad confronted Montero which resulted in both teams into some shoving and pushing. No one was ejected as a result of the play.

The match slowed down significantly around the 20th minute. A few minutes later, Houston’s Brian Ching had his first shot of the night as he had a header on goal that forced Keller to make a nice save. The match was very physical and Nata Jaqua was actually cut just above the eye in the 26th minute and had to be taken off to be bandaged up.

Neither team was able to score in the first half as it was close but the edge to Seattle. The Sounders almost took the lead in the 43rd minute as a free kick was sent in the box and headed by Ianni off the crossbar. The midfield of Seattle and specifically Freddie Ljungberg created mored chances than Houston but no goal to show for it. The first half ended at 0-0

2nd Half

The second half started out much like the first with both teams getting chances. Seattle continued to have the upper hand but hadn’t converted any chances through the 55th minute. The pace and intensity of the match remained high throughout the second half. In the 58th minute, Keller was forced to make a great save as Houston started to get some momentum. The Seattle goalkeeper was solid all night and replied when he was tested.

Fredy Montero took a great first touch and almost gave Seattle the lead in the 61st minute as his shot beat Onstad but just went inches wide. The match entered the final 30 minutes still scoreless. Montero was later subbed out in the 64th minute as Roger Levesque came into the match.

The longer the match continued with no goal, it seemed that it would likely be a 0-0 or 1-0 result. Nate Jaqua with the bandage still on his head had a great header in the 74th minute that was saved by Onstad. Both teams had lots of corners and set pieces on which they got chances. The Sounders started to pick it up around this team (75th minute) as the crowd continued to remain loud and on their feet.

Seattle appeared to take the lead as Jaqua scored but the whistle had been blown a few seconds earlier. Seattle continued to fail to find the back of the net through 80 minutes as they brought on Sebastian Le Toux as a late substitute. Houston played more defensively and seemed content to get a 0-0 draw with the second leg heading back to Texas.

The majority of possession was with the Sounders as the crowd tried to will their club towards a late goal. Houston took few chances as the match neared stoppage time still tied at 0-0. There would be three minutes of stoppage time. Seattle had all the chances in stoppage time and needed a goal with the second leg being on the road.

The last great chance for Seattle came with seconds left as Freddie Ljungberg sent a free kick from the right wing into the box. It was headed out by the defense for a corner kick. A few more crosses were sent in the box but nothing was put on goal as Houston had the final possession of the match. The referee signaled for the end of the match as the two teams played to a 0-0 draw.