Summary
After leading a program to bring military families to the game as part of Brad’s Brigade, midfielder Brad Davis continued his hot streak with a goal – punctuated by a salute to the fans – and an assist, his team record sixth consecutive game with an assist. The Dynamo scored three goals in five minutes, with Kei Kamara and Stuart Holden netting the others.
Notes
The Houston Dynamo ran their unbeaten streak to seven games (5-0-2) with a 3-0 win against Toronto FC Saturday night at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo now have 18 points, which will be either second or third in the Western Conference, depending on Seattle’s result Saturday night.
The Dynamo seized control of the game with three goals in five minutes early in the first half. The first goal came in the 20th minute after Adrian Serioux was booked for fouling Corey Ashe about 22 yards from goal. Brad Davis fired a low shot under the Toronto wall and into the net for his second goal of the year. Davis, who sponsored Brad’s Brigade to provide tickets to members of the armed forces on Military Appreciation night, celebrated the goal by saluting Brad’s Brigade.
Houston quickly made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute when Corey Ashe got the ball wide to Brian Ching on the right, and he bent in a left-footed cross that caromed off the thigh of Kei Kamara and in off the far post. It was Kamara’s third goal in Houston’s last four home games.
The Dynamo all but sealed the match in the 24th minute when, from a free kick on the left side of the field, Davis faked a shot and rolled the ball backward to Stuart Holden, who fired a low shot in off the left post for his second goal of the year. With the assist, Brad Davis raised his season total to a team-leading seven in MLS play and eight in all competitions. Davis has recorded assists in a Dynamo record six consecutive games, two shy of the MLS record.
Pat Onstad finished with five saves to record his fifth shutout of the year and the 55th shutout of his MLS career, fifth in MLS history.
Ricardo Clark made his 110th career start with the Dynamo, and Kei Kamara made his 20th career start with the Dynamo, both in all competitions. Corey Ashe made his 75th career appearance in all competitions.
The Dynamo have outscored opponents 11-2 during their seven-game unbeaten streak and have scored three goals in back-to-back games. Houston now leads the all-time series against Toronto at 2-1-2, including a 2-0-1 record at Robertson Stadium.
Houston midfielder Brian Mullan missed the game with a left hamstring strain and was replaced by Corey Ashe. Dynamo defenders Wade Barrett and Richard Mulrooney were available as substitutes for the first time since May 3 and May 9, respectively.
Dynamo forward Brian Ching will join the U.S. national team for upcoming World Cup qualifiers and could miss roughly one month of games if he is named to the roster for the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Forward Dominic Oduro, acquired from New York during the week for draft picks, made his Dynamo debut as a substitute in the 90th minute.
Toronto FC (4-4-4) vs. Houston Dynamo (5-2-3)
May 30, 2009 -- Robertson Stadium, Houston TX
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Brad Davis 2 (unassisted) 19
HOU -- Kei Kamara 3 (Brian Ching 1, Ricardo Clark 1) 22
HOU -- Stuart Holden 2 (Brad Davis 7) 24
Toronto FC -- Stefan Frei, Marvell Wynne, Nana Attakora, Adrian Serioux, Marco Velez (Rohan Ricketts 46), Carl Robinson (Kevin Harmse 65), Sam Cronin, Amado Guevara, Jim Brennan, Dwayne De Rosario, Chad Barrett (Pablo Vitti 46).
Substitutes Not Used: Greg Sutton, Danny Dichio, Emmanuel Gomez, Johann Smith.
Houston Dynamo -- Pat Onstad, Craig Waibel, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Andrew Hainault, Corey Ashe (Chris Wondolowski 67), Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, Brad Davis, Brian Ching (Ade Akinbiyi 80), Kei Kamara (Dominic Oduro 89).
Substitutes Not Used: Tally Hall, Wade Barrett, Mike Chabala, Richard Mulrooney.
Misconduct Summary:
TFC -- Adrian Serioux (caution; Dissent) 19
HOU -- Andrew Hainault (caution; Dissent) 39
TFC -- Amado Guevara (caution; Reckless Tackle) 92+
gameSumLabel">Referee: Yader Reyes
gameSumLabel">Referee's Assistants: Rob Fereday; Steven Taylor
gameSumLabel">4th official: Jasen Anno
gameSumLabel">Attendance: 16,037
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-86-degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
