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Houston Dynamo FC

Driver Goal Lifts Dynamo

May 6, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


Andrew Driver's goal midway through the second half lifted the Houston Dynamo to a 1-0 road win over the LA Galaxy on Sunday night at the Home Depot Center in a rematch of the last two MLS Cup finals.

The Dynamo (5-2-2; 17 points) are now a part of a four-way tie for first place in the Eastern Conference with the New York Red Bulls (5-4-2), Sporting Kansas City (5-3-2) and Montreal Impact (5-1-2). Of the four clubs, the Dynamo have played the second-fewest games.

The win completed Houston's best nine-game start (17 points) to a season in club history, surpassing the 2009 club, which gained 15 points from the first nine games.

It was the Dynamo's first road win against the Galaxy since Sept. 16, 2007, ending a seven-game winless streak (0-6-1) in all competitions against the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center.

Houston's first road win of the season arrived at the start of a bicoastal road trip that continues on Wednesday night at D.C. United. The Dynamo finish their stretch against 2012 MLS Cup playoff opponents on Sunday, May 12 with a home date with Sporting Kansas City.

Ten minutes after halftime the Dynamo claimed the game-winning goal. Bobby Boswell drove a ball in behind the Galaxy defense, and Giles Barnes beat defender Omar Gonzalez to the ball and carried it into the penalty area. Barnes played a low pass to the top of the penalty area, and Driver cracked a shot into the bottom corner for the deciding goal.

It was Driver's second goal of the season and the first assist of the year for Barnes and Boswell.

The goal changed a scoreless game after goalkeeper Tally Hall kept a clean sheet intact in the 25th minute. The Galaxy were awarded a penalty kick when Hall made contact with forward Jose Villarreal in the penalty area. Landon Donovan took the spot kick, but Hall dove to his left to smother the penalty for his biggest save of the night.

The Dynamo held off several late pushes from LA to earn their second-ever road shutout against the Galaxy, and first road shutout win at the Galaxy in club history.

It was Ricardo Clark's 117th regular season game with the Dynamo to pass Geoff Cameron for seventh on the franchise list.

It was Hall's 81st regular season start with Houston to eclipse Richard Mulrooney for 12th on the club's all-time list.

Houston continues its cross-country road trip with a flight to Washington D.C. on Monday morning. The Dynamo will train at the D.C. United practice facility on Tuesday and play D.C. United on Wednesday night at RFK Stadium. The Dynamo return home to host Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, May 12 in a rematch of postseason series in 2012 and 2011.

Next Match: Wednesday, May 8, 6 p.m. CT, D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo, RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Next Home Match: Sunday, May 12, 7 p.m. CT, Houston Dynamo vs. Sporting Kansas City, BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, TX

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