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 Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo Tops W Connection 2-0 in Champions League

September 26, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


The Houston Dynamo moved to the top of Group 1 in the CONCACAF Champions League with a 2-0 win over W Connection of Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. Jason Johnson scored in the first half and Bobby Boswell added a goal in the second as the Dynamo remained unbeaten in their current Champions League campaign.

The Dynamo (2-0-1; 7 points) are one point ahead of Árabe Unido (2-1-0; 6 points) after three of four group stage games. The two clubs meet on Oct. 24 in Panama in the final group stage game for both teams and a match that will decide the group. The Dynamo will win the group with a tie or win in the finale. Árabe Unido needs to defeat Houston to advance to the tournament quarterfinals, set for next March.

Houston threatened to score in the first half, beginning with a chance for Warren Creavalle in the 22nd minute. The midfielder settled a cleared corner kick near the top of the box and steered his shot wide of the right post.

Ten minutes later, another Dynamo corner kick led to a near miss. The deflected delivery fell to Cam Weaver at the top of the penalty area, and his shot skimmed the top of the cross bar on its way past the goal.

Just two minutes later, a moment of magic from Kofi Sarkodie nearly led to a goal. The Houston right back charged down the right side of the penalty area before cutting back to his left foot to clear space from his marker. His hard, low shot went past W Connection goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa but was cleared off the goal line by Joao Jordao.

The Dynamo were rewarded in the 39th minute as Johnson intercepted a W Connection pass, raced toward the front post, and stung a well-hit shot from ten yards into the far side of the net for a 1-0 lead.

It was Johnson's first career international goal and second in all competitions this season.

Six minutes after halftime, a well-worked sequence earned the Dynamo a corner kick. The move began with a pinpoint cross from Omar Cummings toward the top of the box, where Cam Weaver feigned to receive the ball and left it for Servando Carrasco. The Dynamo newcomer carried the ball into the box and forced a save from Figueroa for a corner kick.

The resulting corner kick was delivered by Alexander Lopez and met by Boswell near the corner of the six-yard box. His header went off a W Connection defender at the near post and into the net for a 2-0 lead.

It was Boswell's first goal of the season and his 15th goal in all competitions with the Dynamo to pass Geoff Cameron for seventh on the franchise list.

It was also Boswell's fifth career international goal with Houston to tie Dwayne De Rosario and Cam Weaver for third on the club list.

Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric made two saves to earn his fourth career shutout in all competitions. It was Deric's second career Champions League clean sheet after he kept C.D. FAS scoreless last September.

One of Deric's best saves arrived in the 60th minute, when he charged off his line to make a sliding stop on Jamal Clarence.

It was Boswell's 29th career international game with Houston to tie Brian Ching for third on the club list. It was also his 24th career international start with the Dynamo to pass Ricardo Clark for third on the franchise chart.

It was Ricardo Clark's 25th international game with Houston to tie Brad Davis and Craig Waibel for sixth on the club list.

The Dynamo (43 points) return to MLS play to visit the New England Revolution (40 points) on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT for a pivotal game between clubs three points apart in the East standings. Houston returns to BBVA Compass Stadium on Friday, Oct. 4 to host the Montreal Impact at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Next Match: Saturday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. CT, New England Revolution vs. Houston Dynamo, Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts

Next Home Match: Friday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. CT, Houston Dynamo vs. Montreal Impact, BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, TX


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