A goal from the unlikeliest of sources -- defender Patrick Ianni -- gave Seattle Sounders FC a 2-1 victory against the Western Conference-leading Houston Dynamo. The former Houston scored his second career goal in style -- on a bicycle kick just seconds into the second half.
The lead stood up as Houston, playing their fifth road game in 14 days and extremely shorthanded, could not find the equalizer.
Seattle, under the stewardship of assistant coach Brian Schmetzer with Sigi Schmid away at his son Kurt's wedding, extended their unbeaten streak in MLS play to five games, including three wins. With the loss, the road-weary Dynamo have dropped two of their last three in league play after going unbeaten in their previous 11 games.
Houston took the early advantage, taking advantage of lackadaisical defense to take the first goal. Ianni tried to control a cross in from the right side but was promptly dispossessed. The ball found its way to Brian Mullan, who touched lightly to Brad Davis at the top of the penalty area. The midfielder beat Keller with a first-time shot to give the Dynamo the early lead.
A defensively-minded team like the Dynamo can be dangerous with a lead (having gone an MLS-record 27 games without losing a game after scoring first), and Seattle spent the rest of the first half trying to unlock Houston's defensive phalanx. Seattle switched the ball quickly in front of Houston's goal to free Fredy Montero for a shot in the 20th minute. The Colombian's shot was easily saved and held by Pat Onstad.
Houston, led by the strike partnership of Dominic Oduro and Kei Kamara, looked dangerous on the counterattack. One such Dynamo breakout forced Pete Vagenas to commit a professional foul in a threatening area. The ensuing shot from the left-footed Davis curled just outside of Seattle's far post for a goal kick.
Davis was all over the field in the first half, tearing off six shots including his goal.
On the other end, Freddie Ljungberg's persistence on a loose ball paid off as the Swede got free to chip in a short cross. Houston's goalkeeper Pat Onstad got a glove on the ball and Craig Waibel was there to usher the ball away inside his own 6-yard box.
The most dangerous player for Seattle in the first half, Montero finally broke through to finish a well-orchestrated buildup. Nate Jaqua delivered a long aerial cross from the right side to Montero, who was streaking between Houston's central defenders. The Colombian controlled the ball with his chest and poked the ball past Onstad.
Mike Chabala, covering in behind his 'keeper, tried to clear the ball off the goal line but arrived just a fraction of a second late.
Montero, with five goals in his last five matches, ran to the corner to celebrate his ninth goal of the season.
The referee had another similar decision to make just before halftime when Zakuani connected on a Ljungberg cross. Onstad, making an acrobatic save, reached behind to palm the ball out of the goal at the last possible moment. The save meant the two teams went into halftime tied at 1-1.
Seattle took the lead in the first minute after halftime through Ianni. Pushed forward for the corner kick, a header fell to Ianni just inches away from the Houston goal. After letting the ball bounce, the defender rose for a bicycle kick and deposited the ball just inside the far post for his second career MLS goal.
Houston coach Dominic Kinnear had a decision to make, with Chabala noticeably limping as he walked back to the locker rooms. Already missing five defenders and with only Erik Ustruck and an ailing Wade Barrett on the substitutes' bench, Kinnear gave Chabala a chance to work through the injury. He could not, and Ustruck came on in the 60th minute.
Perhaps due to team fatigue, Houston struggled to threaten for the equalizer. Playing their third game in eight days and the temperature at Qwest Field in the mid-80s, Kinnear used all of his substitutions by the 62nd minute in an effort to get fresh legs on the field.
The fatigue was evident, but Houston battled gamely. Despite getting the ball into the Seattle penalty area on a number of occasions, the visitors failed to trouble Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
In fact, it was Seattle that had the better of the opportunities looking for the third goal on the counterattack. Montero nearly made it two on the day in the 70th minute but Onstad answered with a kick save on the near post shot. Montero's breakaway attempt was also denied by a scrambling Ustruck in the dying minutes.
The teams will meet again in 10 days, in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal. In the meantime, Sounders FC will not face another league game, while the Dynamo will stay on the road, traveling to take on Toronto FC on July 18.
Andrew Winner is a contributor to MLSnet.com
