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Keller earns shutout as Sounders blank Dynamo, 2-0

Aug 9, 2010 - 6:12 AM SEATTLE (AP) -- Fredy Montero scored off a long kick downfield from goalkeeper Kasey Keller early in the 64th minute on Sunday night and Uruguyan World Cup player Alvaro Fernandez added his first MLS goal to help the Seattle Sounders extend their unbeaten streak to five games with a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo.

"In Colombia, I was the top scorer twice, and I'd like to be on that path again playing here," said Montero, whose goal was his team-leading eighth of the season and extended his scoring streak with either a goal or an assist to nine straight games, the longest current active streak in the league.

"I think Fredy can still get better. But right now, we're seeing a very, very good Fredy Montero," said Sounders coach Sigi Schmid. "If he's not the best forward in the league right now, he's as good as any forward in the league. Edson Buddle has been banging away goals for the (Los Angeles) Galaxy, but right now, Fredy has found a really fine form."

The Sounders (8-8-4, 28 points) have gone 4-0-1 since a 3-1 loss at Los Angeles on July 4th and have climbed into fourth place in the Western Conference.

The Dynamo (5-9-5, 20 points) saw its winless streak extended to nine games (0-4-5), the longest such dry spell since the club relocated from San Jose after the 2005 season. Houston has not won since a 2-0 decision at home against D.C. United on May 22.

In addition to his first-ever point in MLS play, Keller picked up his seventh shutout of the season.

"It's so nice going into that last minute with a two-goal lead," said Keller, having picked up his first point since a U.S. friendly match against Germany several years ago. "What can you say? We're on that run we were hoping to get started, and long may it last."

After scooping up a loose ball in his six-yard box, Keller punted it way downfield. Montero caught up with it at the top of the Houston penalty area. With Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson grasping him from behind, Montero broke free, turned, took the ball into the box and fired a shot from 16 yards away into the back left corner just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Tally Hall.

"The (credit) goes to Kasey Keller for the pass," Montero said. "When the defender doesn't really have control of the ball in the area, it's really hard. I got to it and was able to find it well."

Added Houston goalkeeper Hall, "He's a crafty player, a good player, and he got a turn in side. The show was low and in the corner, a difficult place to make the save. It's difficult for us, because we were looking for a win coming out of this game."

Early in the 88th minute, Fernandez, whose second-half goal last Tuesday helped the Sounders clinch their two-game CONCACAF Champions League series against Metapan of El Salvador, took a long through ball from Montero and from the top of the box beat Hall to the back right corner. Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said there's no particular secret to what the Dynamo need to get back on track.

"A win - simple as that," Kinnear said. "It's a hard thing to do, but an easy thing to talk about. We need a win."