Dynamo stay red hot, shut out Fire

Houston extends unbeaten streak to eight as Chicago loses second straight

Stuart Holden finished off a lead pass from Kei Kamara in the fourth minute. (J. Daniel/Getty)

Dynamo defender Andrew Hainault found forward Kei Kamara with a long ball, and Kamara made a run toward goal from the left. Kamara dodged Fire defender and captain C.J. Brown and sent a low pass to the near post. Midfielder Stuart Holden flicked a high ball over falling Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch and into the net for the lead, the earliest goal Chicago had allowed all season.

Chicago had a number of opportunities in the first half, including a Patrick Nyarko attempt in the 16th minute. Brown sent a long ball to Nyarko on the left side of the field. Nyarko settled it, dodged two defenders and goalkeeper Pat Onstad. With an open goal, Nyarko sent the ball just wide right.

Houston took just the one shot in the first half, while the Fire continually pressured. Chicago registered six shots, including one on goal -- a 33rd-minute attempt by Brian McBride, which Onstad collected effortlessly.

The Fire also came close in the 35th minute. Marco Pappa's corner kick went off the head of McBride to Nyarko, standing near the left post. His header was headed off the line by Richard Mulrooney, stopping a sure goal.

Holden almost made it 2-0 in the 71st minute. Holden shot the ball while Busch came out to grab it. The ball popped up into the air, and Holden tracked it down behind Busch, but Holden's volley went into the right side outer netting.

Chicago's Justin Mapp, who came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute, seemingly had one best opportunities of the match in the 83rd minute. He nearly raced in alone on goal, only to be tracked down from behind by Dynamo center back Geoff Cameron, but the flag was already up for offside.

Fire defender Tim Ward saw yellow in the 88th minute for a tackle on Dominic Oduro. But Holden's freekick opportunity sailed well wide for the visitors. Houston saw another chance in stoppage time when the referee whistled a foul on Chicago after Geoff Cameron went down in the Dynamo box. But the opportunity soon ended after the referee called the game.

Despite offensive opportunities, the Fire couldn't finish in the final third and Houston hung on for the 1-0 win. Leading the MLS with 20 goals scored, Chicago was shutout for the second consecutive match. The Fire haven't scored a goal since a stoppage time penalty kick by Cuauhtemoc Blanco on May 28 at Chivas USA.

Although they were limited to just the single shot on goal in the third minute, Houston is now riding an eight-game unbeaten streak. The Dynamo have posted a 6-0-2 record since April 11. In that stretch, Houston has registered six shutouts, while outscoring opponents 12-2.

Houston returns home for a Wednesday night matchup with Western Conference leaders Chivas USA. The Dynamo are now even with Chicago in the overall MLS standings. The Fire hit the road for their next match, a meeting with D.C. United at RFK Stadium next Saturday.

Kathryn L. Knapp is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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