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De Rosario lifts Dynamo over Galaxy

Sep 17, 2007 - 7:12 AM CARSON, California (Ticker) -- Dwayne De Rosario had a goal and an assist as the Houston Dynamo extended their unbeaten streak to five games with a 3-1 triumph over the struggling Los Angeles Galaxy.

With the win, Houston (13-7-6, 45 pts) moved past Chivas USA (13-6-5, 44 pts) and into first place in the Western Conference standings.

"Making the playoffs is important but it can be a double-edged sword thinking that we can relax we'll lose are momentum and focus and have a rude awakening," Dewayne De Rosario said. "We have to continue to play the way we always do and carry it through to the finals the teams that start playing well at these times (the playoffs) are the successful ones."

De Rosario's penalty kick goal - his fifth of the season - in the 47th minute gave the Dynamo a 2-1 advantage that they would not relinquish. Galaxy defender Mike Randolf's foul on midfielder Brian Mullen set up De Rosario's penalty shot.

"The penalty shot in the second gave us life and it takes the steam out of them at that point," Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said. "I think we found are tempo and created better chances."

Ricardo Clark capitalized on a miscommunication by the Galaxy defense as he picked up the loose ball and blasted a right-foot shot past goalkeeper Joe Cannon to extend the Dynamo's lead to 3-1.

Houston took an early 1-0 lead when De Rosario headed Richard Mulrooney's corner kick to a wide-open Ryan Cochrane, who put a right-foot shot into the open net in the 21st minute.

Los Angeles answered in the 26th minute when Alan Gordon headed Landon Donovan's corner kick past Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad.

The Galaxy, who outshot the Dynamo, 11-9, have lost seven of their last eight contests and remain at the bottom of the league standings.

"(We) can't give away goals like we did tonight," Galaxy coach Frank Yallop. "The team is very naive. In a lot of ways people are not taking responsibility for there part on the field. For me, it's important that everyone understands what there part of this team is and tonight I think it showed that not everyone does."