Union fall to Houston Dynamo

Amobi Okugo was called for interference on a would-be Union goal.

The Union fell to the Dynamo, 1-0, this past weekend at PPL Park. Midfielder Ricardo Clark scored in the 53rd minute to give Houston the victory.

A pivotal moment in the game came in the 30th minute on a disallowed goal for the Union. Keon Daniel lined up to hit a free kick from about 40 yards out. It sailed through the hands of Houston keeper Tally Hall for what looked to be the game’s first goal. Instead, it was disallowed.

“When the ball was played, the Union player [defender Amobi Okugo] was judged to be offsides, so therefore he was penalized for being offsides on that play,” said referee Mark Kadlecik said. “The offsides player [Okugo] interfered with the keeper. It didn’t matter if it was physical or not. If they’re offsides, they are interfering with play.”

Instead of Daniel’s blast becoming fuel to stoke a three-point favor for the Union, it was Houston picking up the points. The Union (10-10-9) sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 39 points.

“This is a cruel game sometimes,” said team manager John Hackworth. “It just feels like in a lot of ways, we can’t catch a break. That’s not the reason that we are sitting here where we are [in the standings], but sometimes you need the ball to bounce your way a little and certainly not have outside factors take goals away and affect your game.”