MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo beat Montreal Impact

September 7, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


Giles Barnes scored two goals and Ricardo Clark provided the game-winning goal as the Houston Dynamo overcame a second half deficit for a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Impact on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The Dynamo (31 points) trail the New York Red Bulls (34 points) by three points for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Houston is in eighth place, two points behind Toronto FC and Columbus with eight games remaining in the regular season. Columbus, New England (36 points) and Chicago (29 points) each play on Sunday.

Barnes opened the scoring in the 30th minute, collecting a pass from Omar Cummings that was misplayed by Montreal left back Krzysztof Krol and charging into the box, where he held of a challenge from Krol and Calum Mallace and slipped a low shot inside the near post for a 1-0 lead.

The Impact pulled even ten minutes later as Felipe received a pass from Ignacio Piatti and drove to his right before slipping a pass to his left for Dilly Duka, who finished with his left foot from just inside the box for an equalizing goal.

Montreal captured the lead in the 55th minute on a counterattack after the Dynamo reached the Impact penalty area. Marco Di Vaio settled a long forward ball at the center circle and quickly fed Piatti in behind the Houston defense. Piatti drove into the box and snuck a shot past onrushing goalkeeper Tyler Deric for a 2-1 lead.

The Dynamo responded within seven minutes. Cummings settled a throw in on the right flank and dribbled into the penalty area before threading a perfect pass to Barnes, who used one touch with his left instep from 12 yards to finish inside the far post for the tying goal.

It was Barnes' seventh goal of the season and capped his second multi-goal game of the season and fourth in his Dynamo career.

While the equalizer came swiftly, the winning goal arrived even sooner.

Three minutes after Barnes' goal the Dynamo gained a corner kick. Brad Davis delivered the service and David Horst rose in a crowd to slightly flicked a header to Clark at the far post. The midfielder settled the ball with his chest before hammering an acrobatic side volley into the net from four yards for the game-winner.

It was Clark's second consecutive game with a goal and his fourth of the season to equal a career-high. All four of Clark's goals are from Davis set pieces.

Horst earned his first career MLS assist on the play while Davis registered with his ninth assist of the season.

The win marked the first time this year the Dynamo overcame a second-half deficit for a win.

The Dynamo remain at home to host the Columbus Crew on Saturday, Sept. 13 at BBVA Compass Stadium in a vital Eastern Conference meeting. The Crew (33 points) leads the Dynamo by two points entering its home game against Chivas USA on Sunday.

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