Dynamo shake the Quakes in 2-1 win
By Louis Roesch
Houston Dynamo interim head coach Wade Barrett earned his first road win as the Dynamo’s top guy besting the San Jose Earthquakes on Friday night 2-1.
Ironically enough, the Dynamo’s first road win of 2016 and their last road win prior on July 10, 2015 both came against Kinnear and the Quakes. The 2-1 win was not the prettiest but at this point in the Houston season, a “W” is a “W”.
“It was not a perfect game, from our side of things,” Barrett said. “But it’s a perfect result.”
Friday night’s “W” was an all-in performance from the attacking third to the goaltending acrobatics of Dynamo keeper Joe Willis. Rarely tested in the opening half, Willis and the Dynamo defense were the difference makers in the second half. Together, they held off a furious second half rally by the Earthquakes.
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Ricardo Clark wearing the captain’s armband put the the Dynamo on top in the sixth minute.The veteran midfielder’s toe poke off a service from Cristian Maidana wasn’t pretty but it was enough to give the Houston side the first score of the match for the third time in their last four outings.
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Ceren nearly equalized in the 22nd minute skying a shot from the six yard marker over the top of the frame and in stoppage time his free kick attempt sailed wide left as Houston went to the locker room with a one goal lead.
The pressure continued early in the second half forcing Willis to make one of two saves worthy of Save of the Week consideration. First it was a point blank header from Shea Salinas in the 49th minute from the six yard line.
One minute later a perfectly delivered set piece from Maidana doubled the Dynamo lead as center-back David Horst headed it past a helpless David Bingham.
San Jose pressure nearly pulled one back in the 53rd minute. Former Dynamo forward Chris Wondolowski’s point blank header caused not only controversy but Willis’ bid at a second opportunity for Save of the Week. The veteran keeper blocked the shot into the air swatting it away as he backpedaled onto the goal line. Referee Robert Sibiga immediately signaled no goal despite the pleadings of Wondolowski.
Less than a minute later, Victor Bernardez put San Jose on the board rocketing a deflected blocked shot past Willis.
Both sides pushed for a late goal. Houston’s Will Bruin broke in on Bingham but left his shot on the top of the netting. The marker would have given the Dynamo cushion instead it took a spectacular block by defender Jalil Anibaba in the closing seconds to save the match.
The Dynamo 2-3-5 under Barrett snapped a six game winless streak for Houston dating back to the July 2, 2016 win over Philadelphia.