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De Rosario lifts Dynamo to first win

May 11, 2008 - 3:53 AM By Jeremy Rakes PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Dwayne De Rosario nailed a penalty kick in the 87th minute, and Houston held on for their first win of the season, 2-1, over Colorado Saturday night at Robertson Stadium.

After Colorado's Ugo Ihemelu was issued for a yellow card for an intentional handball in the box, De Rosario drilled the penalty kick into the left side of the net.

"We had a couple of lucky bounces tonight, especially in the second half when we got the handball call," Houston forward Brian Ching said. "I think luck has been going the other way for us so far, so it is really good to see it come around and come back in our favor. Hopefully we can springboard this victory into many more."

Colorado, however, didn't agree with the handball call.

"Let me put it this way, as a coach, I have to decide between being fined or suspended, and I don't want to do that," Colorado coach Fernando Clavijo said. "I would allow the league people to look at the video and tell the referee.

"What can I say? What I say tonight won't make a difference. I thought we played hard. We came here to get three points. We worked extremely hard. It's unfortunate that someone else can dictate the end of the game."

Ching opened the scoring in the 43rd minute off a pass from Stuart Holden. Holden fed Ching, who was on a breakaway, and Ching faked out Colorado goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and put the ball in an empty net.

The goal ended a streak of 234 minutes without a goal for Houston (1-2-4).

"I am really happy, the result was deserved, especially with all the hard work the guys have been putting in," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "I think you saw in the first half, especially, we came out with a great attitude and got the goal.

"In the second half, I think the heat and humidity got to us a little bit. But when they scored, I think that made us pick up our attitude a little bit. I am happy with the win, happy for the guys, because I know all the hard work they have been putting into getting us there."

Colorado (3-4-0) knotted the score in the 68th minute when Christian Gomez fed Omar Cummings in the right box. Cummings then barely put it past the outstretched arms of Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad and into the left net for the goal.

Gomez's assist was his third in as many games, and Cummings' goal was his second of the year.

"We didn't play well the first half," said Colorado midfielder Jacob Peterson. "I think at halftime we woke up and played well the second half. To get a goal, especially here where it's a tough place to play, then give up a penalty in the last five minutes of the game. It's definitely frustrating. We have to build on this. We have a game Thursday, so we have to look forward to that."

In the 71st minute, Rapids assistant coach Gary Smith was ejected by referee Tim Weyland. In the 89th minute, Colorado's Tom McManus was issued a red card on the bench and ejected.

Onstad finished with five saves, including one in the second half stoppage time on a rocket by Colin Clark. Coundoul had one save for the Rapids.