Sounders, Dynamo scoreless in Seattle

SEATTLE – Blood, noise and yellow cards outnumbered scoring chances as the expansion Seattle Sounders debuted in the MLS playoffs with a 0-0 draw against the Houston Dynamo Thursday night in the first match of a home-and-home, aggregate-goals set.

Second-seeded Houston, seeking its third MLS title in four seasons, denied a frantic late flurry of corner kicks and set plays by Sounders star Freddie Ljungberg.

The playoff opener was another splashy event in the Sounders’ inaugural season.

Seattle, the third seed in the Western Conference, set attendance records while becoming the first expansion team in 11 years to reach the MLS postseason.

The crowd of 35,807 at Qwest Field was the largest crowd for a conference semifinal playoff match in MLS’ 13-year history.

It was the fourth scoreless draw this season for each team. The second match of the series is Nov. 8 at Houston, where the Dynamo are 4-1 in the playoffs.

The two stingiest defenses during the regular season – 29 goals against each in 30 games – bulled through 60 minutes. There were only two prime scoring chances in that span. The first came from former Dynamo player Patrick Ianni, who started because Tyrone Marshall had a sprained knee. He headed a shot off the crossbar in the 43rd minute on long free kick by Ljungberg.

In the 58th minute, Houston All-Star midfielder Brad Davis had his shot from the top of the penalty area poked away with a right hand by diving goalkeeper Kasey Keller.