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Immovable object or (not so) unstoppable force? That was the overall theme Saturday night for the Houston Dynamo and Colorado Rapids, which battled to a 0-0 draw, despite combining for 18 shots and three on-target efforts apiece.

Here are three takeaways from Colorado’s draw with Houston:

Early returns

At first glance, the release of Colorado’s second leading scorer, Joe Mason, in exchange for Giles Barnes – a player who had become a journeyman in MLS – was a headscratcher.

But Saturday night showed the 29-year-old Jamaican international still has something to offer. In 52 minutes of action, he produced two shots on goal and looked threatening on the counterattack, setting up opportunities for Dominique Badji.

For Anthony Hudson, who typically shows restraint in bringing new players into the starting XI, giving Barnes the start was a “no brainer.”

“We were confident that he’s had a preseason,” Hudson said of Barnes’ fitness. “He played a couple of games in preseason. Given the situation that we’re in, we’ve needed a lift and a presence higher up the pitch. In the end [starting Barnes] was an easy decision for me.”

>>>Watch: Highlights from the match

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – It was all deadlocked at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, as the Colorado Rapids and Houston Dynamo battled to a 0-0 draw Saturday night.

With the teams’ splitting points, Houston stayed in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, while Colorado ended its two-game losing streak.

“We’ve got loads of work to do,” Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson told reporters postgame. “I was disappointed. I think we did enough to get three points tonight. But I also think three or four weeks ago we might have lost that game. We’ve strengthened up as a team.”

For opposing coach Wilmer Cabrera, it was a more positive assessment, having earned a point on the road.

“We played a very serious game,” said Cabrera. “We performed well and were solid defensively. It was a very good shape. In fairness, we could have won.”

The match marked the Rapids debut for new acquisition Giles Barnes, who joined Colorado from Liga MX side Club León on a six-month deal earlier this week.

“I thought he did well for his first game,” Hudson said of the Rapids’ new addition. “He’s come in and straight away, he’s had an impact on the group. He’s a big personality and a presence and we saw that on the pitch tonight. I was very pleased with his start.”

It also marked the first game for Houston midfielder Jared Watts against his former team since being traded to the Dynamo back in March. Watts missed the teams’ previous meeting, a 2-0 win by Houston last month due to injury.

Watts ended the match with one on-target effort on goal, but contributed to the shutout with four clearances and four ball recoveries.

“Defensively, our defenders wanted to track their runners and our midfielders and forwards wanted to put pressure on the ball,” explained Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis. “I think we did a pretty good job and limited their chances.”

Houston’s best opportunity to go in front came in the 22nd minute, when Memo Rodriguez had an open look on goal from just outside Colorado’s 18-yard box. But Rodriguez’s effort missed just inches above the crossbar.

Minutes later, Barnes made his first big impact on the game, dribbling on a breakaway and threading the ball through to Dominique Badji in the 26th minute, but Willis was able to make the save.

Barnes had another opportunity on goal in the 40th minute, but his headed effort couldn’t find the target.

All in all, the first half presented little offense, however, as both sides combined for a total of just seven shots (three on target) in the first half.

Both sides continued to battle for the go-ahead goal in the second half, producing a handful of chances.

In the 57th minute, Rapids defender Kortne Ford’s attempt on goal was blocked by Leonardo. A follow up effort by Badji moments later was high and wide of the mark.

The visitors also had a prime opportunity in the 61st minute, but the shot from outside the box by Houston midfielder Tomás Martínez was gather by Tim Howard. It marked the second of two saves in the match for the Rapids ‘keeper.

Houston again threatened on the counterattack in the 87th minute, but Mauro Manotas’ shot from distance following a failed clearance by Edgar Castillo was just inches wide of goal. Hudson was pleased with the Rapids’ centerbacks’ ability to contain Houston’s playmakers, including homegrown Kortne Ford.

“I love Kortne. I love him as a character, as a player,” Hudson said of Ford’s performance. “I think we’ve all seen games where [Alberth] Elis and [Mauro] Manotas destroy defenders, but at no time when Kortne was in those situations was I panicking.”

Despite the multiple attempts to end the deadlock, the match ended in a 0-0 draw. Colorado will now head to the other side of the Rocky Mountains to face Real Salt Lake in the second leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry next Saturday, while Houston will prep to host a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against Sporting KC on Wednesday night.

“I think it’s been a difficult season for everyone and we want as a group to have a stronger second half [of the season],” said Hudson. “I think what’s important for us, given our recent history, is it’s a performance we can build on.”

The post In defensive battle, Houston Dynamo and Colorado Rapids split points in 0-0 draw appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.