HOUSTON – Brian Ching’s brace led the Houston Dynamo back into the win column with a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday to halt the visitors’ unbeaten streak at nine.
Coming back from serving a red card suspension, Ching tallied the winner and the insurance goal to earn Houston the much-needed win. Colin Clark, also returning from suspension, opened scoring for the home team while Alvaro Fernandez tallied for the visitors from the PK spot.
Houston started the game strong, drawing first blood for just the eighth time this season in the seventh minute. Geoff Cameron started the sequence with a nice cross that Ching was unable to bring down; however, Clark was right there in the six-yard box to settle the ball and put a left-footed shot to Kasey Keller’s left for his third goal of the season.
Ching’s first goal came in the 23rd minute when Cameron took a nifty layoff from Brad Davis and put a curling ball in the box. Seattle defender Patrick Ianni looked to misjudge the flight of the ball, and Ching was there to hit a well-placed header just inside the left post.
Seattle pulled within one in the 36th minute when forward Fredy Montero drew a foul in the penalty box after he beat Corey Ashe to a loose ball. Scrambling back, Ashe went to ground and caught Montero from behind. Referee Niko Bratsis immediately pointed to the spot – the first time he has awarded a penalty kick as an MLS referee.
In the 70th minute Ching completed his brace after a furious sequence that saw Houston take three shots. Cam Weaver and Adam Moffat both saw efforts from distance blocked until Clark finally sent a right-footed pass across the box that Ching buried from the corner of the six-yard box.
The 3-1 scoreline was indicative of the run of play. While control of the game ebbed and flowed at times, Houston were the more dangerous team on the night with seven shots on goal to none for Seattle.
Houston improve to 27 points and will travel to Philadelphia to face the East-leading Union next Saturday. Seattle return to CONCACAF Champions League play Wednesday and will try and overcome a one-goal deficit in their series with Panamanian side San Francisco FC. They then travel to Kansas City to face Sporting next Saturday.
Robertson Stadium
Attendance: 18,465
Seattle Sounders (10-5-8)
Houston Dynamo (6-7-9)
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Colin Clark 3 (unassisted) 7
HOU -- Brian Ching 2 (Geoff Cameron 4, Brad Davis 10) 23
SEA -- Alvaro Fernandez 6 (penalty kick) 36
HOU -- Brian Ching 3 (Colin Clark 2, Hunter Freeman 2) 71
Seattle Sounders -- Kasey Keller, James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Jeff Parke, Tyson Wahl, Mauro Rosales, Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg, Alvaro Fernandez (Mike Fucito 78), Fredy Montero (Pat Noonan 68), Roger Levesque (Nate Jaqua 57).
Substitutes Not Used: Servando Carrasco, Leo Gonzalez, Zach Scott, Josh Ford.
Houston Dynamo -- Tally Hall, Hunter Freeman, Bobby Boswell, Andre Hainault, Corey Ashe, Colin Clark (Alex Dixon 89), Geoff Cameron, Adam Moffat, Brad Davis, Brian Ching (Jason Garey 87), Will Bruin (Cam Weaver 31).
Substitutes Not Used: Eddie Robinson, Kofi Sarkodie, Jermaine Taylor, Tyler Deric.
Misconduct Summary:
HOU -- Cam Weaver (caution; Reckless Tackle) 34
SEA -- Alvaro Fernandez (caution; Tactical Foul) 38
HOU -- Brad Davis (caution; Reckless Tackle) 76
SEA -- Mike Fucito (caution; Dissent) 87
Referee: Niko Bratsis
Referee's Assistants: -Peter Manikowski; Anthony Vasoli
4th Official: Hilario Grajeda
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Clear-and-90-degrees
