The Houston Dynamo earned their first win of the season and moved into third place in the Eastern Conference with a comprehensive 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps Sunday night at Robertson Stadium. Defender Bobby Boswell notched a goal and an assist, midfielder Brad Davis set up all three goals, and rookie forward Will Bruin scored his first professional goal in the win.
Houston will continue its homestand – four of five games at home – next Sunday at 6 p.m. against the New England Revolution, which is currently one point ahead of the Dynamo in the Eastern Conference standings but has played one more game than Houston.
On Sunday, the Dynamo dominated the first half but did not break through for their first home goal of the season until the 37th minute. Brad Davis delivered a corner kick from the left that Bobby Boswell headed toward the back post, where Cam Weaver arrived to volley the ball into the net to give Houston the lead. It was Weaver’s second consecutive MLS game with a goal and gave him four goals in his last nine MLS games. The assist for Davis was the 65th of his MLS career.
For Brad Davis, the three assists were a career high. The multi-assist game was his 10th in MLS play as a member of the Dynamo and the 13th of his MLS career. It was the third three-assist performance in Dynamo club history, joining Corey Ashe (9/8/07) and Dwayne De Rosario (4, 4/2/06).
Vancouver responded almost immediately, scoring in the 38th minute through Brazilian forward Camilo, his third goal of the season, with an assist from midfielder Davide Chiumiento, who notched his fourth assist in just three games.
Houston got the last laugh of the half, however, following another corner kick. Davis set up Danny Cruz on the left wing, and Cruz curled a right-footed cross behind the back line to Boswell, who one-timed a shot inside the left post with his left foot. It was Boswell’s first goal since July 18, 2009, and his goal and assist in the first half equaled his MLS total from the past two seasons combined. For Cruz, the assist was his first since July 1, 2010.
In the second half, the Dynamo put the game away in the 76th minute when Brad Davis, wearing the captain’s armband, played a long ball from his own half behind the Vancouver back line. Rookie forward Will Bruin ran onto the pass, touched the ball around Whitecaps goalie Jay Nolly, and slotted it in with his left foot from a bad angle for his first professional goal.
Goalkeeper Tally Hall, who had been exceptional in the first three games of the season, only needed one save to earn his first win of the season and the second MLS win of his career.
Center back Bobby Boswell made his 115th career start for the Dynamo in all competitions. Corey Ashe made the 50th MLS start of his career and his second consecutive start at left back. Midfielder Colin Clark made a late appearance as a substitute, his 85th MLS appearance and his first since August 7, 2010.
The Dynamo played without forwards Calen Carr (concussion) and Brian Ching (rib separation) and defender Jermaine Taylor (foot sprain).
Next
Match: Sunday, April 17, 6 p.m., Dynamo vs. New England Revolution, Robertson
Stadium
Reserve
Match: Monday, April 11, 10 a.m., Dynamo vs. Sporting Kansas City, Robertson
Stadium
Postgame
Quotes
HOUSTON DYNAMO HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On the game …
“It is nice to win at home. It sends them
home a little happier than when they showed up last time, and hopefully they
want to come back the following week. We left the field disappointed three
weeks ago against Philadelphia. Everyone is responsible for how we play, and
how we tend to our customers, and I thought we played well, we won, and we
entertained them.”
HOUSTON DYNAMO GOALKEEPER TALLY HALL
On
the game …
“We
were better in every category today, and we outplayed them. The whole team
worked very hard the whole time; even late in the game we were trying to take
it to them. The whole team did great.”
HOUSTON DYNAMO FORWARD WILL BRUIN
On
his first professional goal …
“I wanted just to get to the ball and make sure I
followed through and make sure it went in the goal.”
