The Houston Dynamo came in to their game against Toronto FC desperately needing a win to keep pace in the Eastern Conference. On a hot night in Houston, Texas, the Dynamo did just that. The Canadian side started the game by having their national anthem messed up and ended with another loss. The win marked the first for the Dynamo since June 11th against Chivas USA.
Forgive me for not writing much about the action in the first half, I nearly fell asleep. Both teams had a couple of chances but the half was forgettable to say the least. The best chance came for Houston in the 8th minute when midfielder Brad Davis got the ball all alone in the left side of the box. Davis blasted his shot over the goal and in to the supporter’s section. The only shot on goal came from Je-Vaughn Watson, a 35 yard skimmer in the 29th minute that Toronto keeper Stefan Frei easily scooped up.
After the slow first half, the Dynamo came out firing on all cylinders and were rewarded with a goal. Danny Cruz played a ball to Brian Ching near midfield and Ching held off Ty Harden and returned a pass to Cruz. Cruz found himself alone on goal and beat Frey low to his right from about eight yards out. It was the first goal of the season for Cruz.
With stalwarts Brad Davis and Brian Ching subbed out, the Dynamo put the game to bed in the 81st minute. A minute earlier, rookie Will Bruin was aone on a breakway by Frei came out to make the stop and then punched over Colin Clark’s rebound. The corner kick was flicked at the near post by Andre Hainaulto Bruin whose shot hit a Toronto defender and found Geoff Cameron all alone at the penalty spot. Cameron made no doubt as he smashed home his third goal of the year.
Danny Cruz put in a solid performance to earn Man of the Match. Houston keeper Tally Hall, one week after a great game, had to make no saves as Toronto hardly challenged the Dynamo goal. Houston finished the game with six shots on goal. The Dynamo return to Robertson next week to take on Sporting Kansas City while Toronto’s next match is July 20th at home against FC Dallas.
(image courtesy of Wilf Thorne/Houston Dynamo)
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