Houston Dynamo snap losing streak with 2-0 win over Colorado Rapids

The Houston Dynamo hoped to get back on track following their two game losing streak that came on the road. They would come up successful in their attempt after their 2-0 over the Colorado Rapids at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The Colorado Rapids began with a very defensive shape which helped the Dynamo press and get their chances early on. Several players had good runs inside the Rapids’ 18 yard box including Romell Quioto and DaMarcus Beasley, but despite the pressure the Dynamo struggled to get a good shot on target.

In the 10^th minute the Dynamo came close to opening the scoring. Quioto sent in a ball intended for the head of Alberth Elis, but it was headed away by Tommy Smith. The ball would fall to Andrew Wenger who took a touch and fired it, but it went over the top. This was Wenger’s first start in a few weeks as he had been hampered by a lingering injury, but unfortunately he would be forced to come off due to injury. In the 25^th minute Adam Lundqvist would replace Wenger.

The Dynamo would continue to knock on the door searching for an opening goal. The home side controlled the possession and the chances with Colorado content sitting back and clearing the ball back to the Dynamo. The strategy forced Houston wide to its wing players and out of the center which made some quality chances hard to come by.

Houston would finally break through following a foul to DaMarcus Beasley. The free kick was taken quickly to Romell Quioto and although he lost the ball, Tomás Martínez won it back and slalomed through a few defenders. His initial shot was saved by Tim Howard, but Martínez got his own rebound and slotted it into the corner of the net. 1-0 to Houston in the 30^th minute.

Things would get worse for Colorado as Quioto played a through ball to Beasley. As Beasley got to the ball he was brought down in the 18 yard box by Johan Bloomberg earning a penalty for Houston. Mauro Manotas stepped to the penalty spot and drilled in a second goal for the Dynamo beating Tim Howard.

Just before halftime in stoppage time Yannick Boli saw a red card putting Colorado down a man and down two goals. Boli had wanted a foul against Leonardo who played the center forward very physically. Boli lashed out by putting his forearm into the face of Leonardo which saw the French forward sent off.

The early stages of the second half played out the same way as the first half with the Dynamo controlling the lion’s share of possession trying to whittle away at the deep defending Colorado. The Rapids’ offense was limited to some set piece opportunities which the Dynamo defended well.

The Dynamo nearly added to their tally in the 58^th minute as a long pass to Adam Lundqvist was headed on to Alberth Elis. Elis took a poor first touch, but Martínez got to it though his shot was deflected out for a corner.

In the 75^th minute the Dynamo were unlucky to get another as Tomás Martínez had a nice 1-2 with DaMarcus Beasley who was able to pick out Mauro Manotas, Manotas tried to one touch finish it, but he made poor contact with the ball as it sputtered slowly for an easy grab by Tim Howard. Two minutes later Quioto got free and rattled a shot off the crossbar.

Manotas was very close to getting the Dynamo a goal in the second half in the 88^th minute. The ball got free inside the 18 yard box and Manotas did well to be first to it. He took a dribble and aimed for the far post, but the ball bounced off the side post keeping the score at 2-0 to Houston.

With the final whistle sounding the Dynamo won 2-0 over the Rapids snapping a two game losing streak. Overall the Rapids sitting back just invited the Dynamo to pressure all game long.

The Dynamo next face Minnesota United FC Monday June 18^th in the US Open Cup and they return to league action Saturday June 23^rd against Sporting Kansas City.

Goals:

30’ HOU: Tomás Martínez

36’ HOU: Mauro Manotas (PK)

Disciplinary:

45’+4’ COL: Yannick Boli (red card)

55’ COL: Deklan Wynne (yellow card)

Lineups:

Houston Dynamo (4-3-3): Joe Willis; DaMarcus Beasley, Leonardo, Alejandro Fuenmayor (69’ Philippe Senderos), Andrew Wenger (25’ Adam Lundqvist); Oscar Boniek García (63’ Memo Rodríguez), Eric Alexander, Tomás Martínez; Romell Quioto, Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis

Colorado Rapids (5-4-1): Tim Howard; Sam Nicholson, Tommy Smith, Danny Wilson, Deklan Wynne, Marlon Hairston (79’ Jack McBean); Joe Mason (62’ Enzo Martinez), Michael Azira, Jack Price, Johan Blomberg (69’ Bistmark Boateng); Yannick Boli