In two heated contests last season, the Crew drew in both of its meetings with the Houston Dynamo in 2012. Before the Black & Gold kicks off the first of three matches with the Dynamo in 2013 on Saturday night, here is a look back at the home-and-home series from last season.
On a chilly April night, Eddie Gaven netted his first brace for the Black & Gold as Aaron Schoenfeld recorded his first-career assist. The Crew's effort wasn't enough for the win however as Will Bruin tallied and found Brian Ching unmarked in front of net for the 81st-minute equalizer. Andy Gruenebaum made six saves in the draw, including an acrobatic stop from a long-distance laser from Ching's right foot.
The Dynamo's Brad Davis and the Black & Gold's Cole Grossman traded first-half goals as Federico Higuaín made his MLS debut as a halftime substitute. The Argentine playmaker made an immediate impact, lobbing a 35-yard pass to find a streaking Eddie Gaven downfield to put the Crew ahead 2-1. But it was a late goal from a familiar face that left the Black & Gold with just a point to take from its first visit to BBVA Compass Stadium as former Crew midfielder Adam Moffat pounded a long-distance shot off the hands of Andy Gruenebaum and past the goal line.