Smart decisions led the Houston Dynamo to their second road win of the season at Rio Tinto Stadium late Saturday night. The 1-0 win on a 36th minute goal from Alex ended what had been a prefect season at home in 2016.
The win was more than just three points as Houston did what inn needed to do in the return of DaMarcus Beasley to the pitch. The veteran defender had been absent for more than a month with a knee injury.
The win marked the first time any club at beaten Real Salt Lake at home this season and was the first road win against RSL since 2007.
Alex’s game winner was the first time since Giles Barnes in 2014 that a Dynamo player had scored in three consecutive matches. Ricardo Clark forced a defensive turnover in the attacking third and Alex raced onto the ball behind the RSL defense. His right-footed blast beat Nick Rimando for the game’s only tally.
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Houston then turned to doing what the Dynamo do best since the installation of Wade Barrett at the helm of the team. For the next 54 plus minutes including four in second half stoppage time. It was in those four minutes that Houston made the smartest decisions of the night. With the game hanging in the balance and RSL with four forwards pushing the attack, the Dynamo countered into the attacking third. From there the Will Bruin held the ball deep in the the corner forcing Real Salt Lake’s defenders to come to him and knock the ball out of bounds on consecutive possessions.
RSL did get one final shot with a late corner but Houston cleared and the final whistle sounded sending the Dynamo to a happy plane ride home.
Houston returns to action on
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