Another match, another disappointing loss for the defending MLS champions. And if Wednesday's 1-0 setback to expansion Toronto FC wasn't bad enough, Houston Dynamo returned to the not-so-friendly confines of Robertson Stadium and dropped yet another 1-0 loss, this time to the New England Revolution.
Last November, Dynamo clinched MLS Cup in their first season with a victory on penalty kicks against New England at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. But the Revolution spoiled the fun on Saturday with the first regulation win in the all-time series between the teams.
Shalrie Joseph scored the lone goal in the ninth minute - the Revolution's only official shot on goal in the match - sending Dynamo to their fourth loss in seven matches.
A year ago the defending champions did not lose their fourth game until they suffered a 1-0 loss at Colorado on July 26. The Dynamo lost just eight matches in 2006 and finished the regular season 11-8-13.
There was plenty of action in the opening half as Dynamo outshot the Revolution 5-1 and had the balance of scoring chances.
But it was the defending Eastern Conference champions who got on the board first as Joseph converted the Revs' only scoring chance in the opening 45 minutes. After a failed clearing attempt by Clark, with Ryan Cochrane charging the play as well, the ball settled on the turf and Joseph blasted home a shot past Onstad for the 1-0 lead.
After three harmless corner kicks in the opening 10 minutes, Dynamo had their first legitimate scoring chance when Brian Ching took a pass and fired a shot from just to the right of Revolution 'keeper Matt Reis. Ching had a clear path, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Clark had a good look when he settled a rebound and fired a shot with his left foot high over the goal. It was more defense for Dynamo, who kept the ball away from goalkeeper Pat Onstad for the remaining 25 minutes of the half.
After New England winger Khano Smith was given a yellow card for an elbow to the head of Clark, Richard Mulrooney fed a nice crossing pass to Ching, but he headed the ball high over the net once again.
Dynamo did not have another shot on goal in the final 12 minutes of the half, but they did pick up two yellow cards as Ching and Dwayne De Rosario each got whistled in the 43rd and 45th minutes, respectively.
Houston had several chances to tie the game in the second half. Reis preserved the one-goal lead with a tough save in the 67th minute, stretching up to deflect Clark's header just enough to prevent it from sailing cleanly into the goal, and then twisting around to smother the ball in front of the goal before Clark could recover for the easy tap-in. Reis ended the night with four saves.
In the 80th minute, another chance fell to Clark. But after settling a pass, he missed the far post by a foot and the Revolution eventually held on for their fifth win in eight matches, running their undefeated streak to seven games.
A final chance came in stoppage time as Ching chipped a cross toward Joseph Ngwenya sending the Dynamo faithful to their feet, only to be disappointed by another missed opportunity.
Andrew J. Ferraro is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
