CARSON, Calif. - Dwayne De Rosario scored in the 56th minute and a 10-man Houston Dynamo held off the Los Angeles Galaxy and for a 2-1 victory in a Western Conference match Sunday at The Home Depot Center.
Houston improved to 10-8-9 and moved four points clear of Chivas USA and Colorado, both tied with 35 points. The Galaxy, meanwhile, find themselves in yet another precarious situation. On 32 points and in the conference cellar, they face the Rapids in a crucial match at The Home Depot Center next Saturday.
Both sides were missing key players. The Galaxy played without defenders Troy Roberts and Nathan Sturgis, both sidelined due to groin injuries. Dynamo, meanwhile, made do without defender Eddie Robinson, who was suspended for the match.
Dynamo also finally had Scottish forward Paul Dalglish available as his work visa was approved during the week. Dynamo acquired Dalglish from Scottish Premier League side Hibernian on Aug. 21.
De Rosario was dangerous from the start. He darted down the left side of the field in the first minute and sent a cross in towards the six-yard box but Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall deftly headed the ball out of the penalty area.
Dynamo's Adrian Serioux was booked in the 22nd minute after a rough challenge from behind on Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones. Four minutes later, Brad Davis flattened Galaxy defender Chris Albright but was not booked. However, teammate Ricardo Clark saw yellow one minute later when he knocked down Paulo Nagamura.
Donovan put the Galaxy ahead in the 29th minute when he teamed with Alan Gordon for a superb goal. Gordon held the ball some 25 yards out between a pair of Dynamo defenders. Donovan broke into the penalty area and Gordon slipped a perfect through ball onto Donovan's path. Donovan easily side-footed it into the back of the net.
Houston forward Brian Ching came on for Chris Wondolowski in the 31st minute. The U.S. World Cup team member played Wednesday, when the Galaxy and Dynamo met in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, for the first time in nearly a month following a tear and subsequent surgery on a meniscus.
One minute after the change, Dynamo leveled terms. Brad Davis struck a corner kick to the far post. Former Galaxy defender Craig Waibel slammed the ball into the net to give Dynamo the equalizer. It was Waibel's third goal of the season.
Physical and sloppy play dominated the remainder of the first half. Gordon sent a pair of open headers well over the crossbar and out of harm's way on crosses from Ante Jazic and Donovan. The Galaxy did well to find space in Dynamo's backline but Gordon's inability to finish cost the Galaxy going into the break.
De Rosario continued the physical play in the 38th minute when he kicked Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu in. De Rosario was not booked but received a stern talk from referee Abbey Okulaja.
Onstad made a stellar save in the 45th minute on Donovan that kept the score even at halftime. Donovan broke clear of Dynamo's defense but Onstad turned away his 18-yard attempt after charging well off his line.
Dynamo finished the first half with just one shot on goal and three total shots. The Galaxy, meanwhile, peppered the Dynamo goal with nine total shots and three on goal. The two teams combined for 21 first-half fouls.
Brian Mullan was booked in the 51st minute after knocking down Jazic from behind. It was Dynamo's third booking of the match.
Dynamo broke the deadlock in the 56th minute when De Rosario bagged his second goal in as many games against the Galaxy. Davis held the ball about 35 yards out and tried unsuccessfully to dribble past Vagenas. Both players went down to the ground but Vagenas inadvertently knocked the ball into his own penalty area. De Rosario was in perfect position and ran onto the ball, danced around Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman and knocked the ball high into an empty net as Ihemelu vainly tried to rush back into the goalmouth.
The goal was De Rosario's 10th of the season. In five games at The Home Depot Center this year, De Rosario has scored five goals.
Mullan was sent off in the 66th minute after leveling Donovan. Mullan picked up his second yellow card of the match and subsequently left Dynamo with 10 men.
The Galaxy countered with a pair of speedy substitutes. Quavas Kirk and Herculez Gomez replaced Cobi Jones and Vagenas, respectively. Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear brought Dalglish into the match in the 71st minute when he removed Davis.
Dynamo did well to squash the Galaxy's hopes with a strong effort down the stretch. With just 10 men, Dynamo allowed few scoring chances.
Kirk nearly hit for the equalizer with just seconds remaining in stoppage time, but Onstad parried his dipping drive with a dive to his left. Marshall's attempt at centering the rebound meekly rolled to Onstad.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
