It took longer than they wanted, but the Houston Dynamo put an end to two streaks Saturday night using an undermanned team.
Playing without regulars Will Bruin and Corey Ashe, off with the US national team at the Gold Cup, and Brad Davis due to injury, the Dynamo players still found a way to put an end to a 388-minute scoreless streak and seven-game winless streak.
A Ricardo Clark header tucked inside the far post in the 59th minute, helped put an end to both streaks in Houston's 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union at BBVA Compass Stadium.
"It was a great three points," Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear said. "We made it a little bit harder than we could have. We created a lot of chances. I thought we were good for a goal tonight. One was enough. First win for a while. The guys are happy and so am I."
It was Houston's first win in league play since May 8, when a fully manned Dynamo dominated D.C. United en route to a 4-0 win.
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"It's three points," Clark said. "At the end of the day, that is all we wanted."
More than anything else, Kinnear said the win gives the Dynamo confidence as they head back to practice next week.
"We know what's been going on," Kinnear said. "We have been peppered with questions over the last couple weeks about not winning. This is a proud group, and we get a little annoyed by it ... Any time you win whether it is a great win or the team's played poorly and you get a little lucky, you walk off the field with a little enjoyment out of it."
Houston's previous record scoreless streak was 275 minutes in May of 2007. Houston had not scored since Warren Creavalle put one home in a 1-1 draw at Columbus on June 1.
OPTA Chalkboard: Houston control possession in first victory since May
Omar Cummings made his first start of the season and played 69 minutes up front with Barnes, while Creavalle stepped back onto the backline. Houston 'keeper Tally Hall said players stepping up has been a consistent theme this year.
"You look at the history of the Houston Dynamo, and it's a consistent theme that when people get chances, they step up and man up and put on a good performance," Hall said. "Tonight was no different. The guys that aren't typically starters showed they are fighting for position and making an argument for themselves."
