D.C. United suffered the second loss in their last four matches after a seven-game unbeaten run, falling 1-0 to Houston Dynamo on Sunday night at Robertson Stadium.
Brian Ching's redirection in the 33rd minute provided the game's only goal as a win or tie would have moved United into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference, but as it is, the team will slip into a tie with the New England Revolution for second place, with the New York Red Bulls taking over the top spot by beating the Colorado Rapids Sunday.
The shutout also ends United forward Luciano Emilio's streak of consecutive games with a goal at five, the second longest such streak in MLS this season. The longest streak belongs to Juan Pablo Angel of the New York Red Bulls, who scored in six consecutive matches.
Dynamo now have not allowed a goal in 515 minutes, the third longest shutout streak in MLS history.
United nearly put an end to that string in the 19th minute, when United midfielder Christian Gomez sent a free kick goalward from some 30 yards out on the right. Gomez's attempt bounced in the heart of the penalty area and over the dive of Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad, only to glance off the crossbar. The ball deflected back down into the penalty area, but the Dynamo defense was able to clear the ball before any United players could reach the rebound.
The D.C. midfield did a good job of possessing the ball for the majority of the first half, but often couldn't find a way to put pressure on the Dynamo defense. Houston's physical defenders kept the pressure up on Emilio and fellow forward Nick Addlery, limiting the duo to only one shot between them.
That shot came in the 30th minute, when Emilio received a long forward pass from midfielder Fred. Emilio maneuvered around Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson for a one-on-one with Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad. Emilio's shot was hard and to Onstad's right, but it wasn't quite far enough toward the post and the 'keeper dove in for the save.
Three minutes later, Houston scored the only goal of the first half from a corner kick by midfielder Stuart Holden. Holden's kick went to forward Brian Ching, whose header attempt bounced off a defender's foot and back out of the box.
Houston midfielder Richard Mulrooney collected the loose ball and sent a low shot on the ground toward goal. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins had a bead on the shot, but Ching deflected it at the last moment to push it past Perkins' hands and into the net.
United's first opportunity of the second half came in the 59th minute, when D.C. defender Josh Gros sent a long cross into the box for Emilio. Emilio looked to have position on his defender, but Onstad stepped in front of the cross and snatched it away before the attacker could make a play.
In the 61st minute, Houston threatened to score again when midfielder Brian Mullan slotted a forward pass neatly between Gros and fellow defender Greg Vanney for a streaking Ching. Perkins stopped the threat by sliding into Ching's feet to smother the potential shot.
As the match drew to a close, D.C. had two more chances to level the match. The first came in the 73rd minute, when Gomez got a little bit of separation from his defender on the end line hear the Houston goal. Gomez tried to slip a shot by Onstad, but Onstad was well positioned on the near post and easily deflected the ball out of harm's way.
In the 80th minute, United defender Devon McTavish launched a long, curling shot from outside the right side of the box, hoping to catch Onstad off guard. The optimistic shot was corralled by Onstad, and that was the final chance for United on the night.
D.C. United will face Harrisburg City Islanders in a U.S. Open Cup match on Wednesday, July 11. United's next MLS match will come on Sat., July 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET at home against FC Dallas. Houston will play a U.S. Open Cup match against Charleston Battery on Tues., July 10. Dynamo's next league match will be Thurs., July 12 at 9 p.m. ET against the Chicago Fire in Bridgeview, Ill.
Lucas Ogden-Davis is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
