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Ianni's bicycle kick lifts Sounders over Dynamo

Jul 11, 2009 - 11:39 PM By MARK MOSCHETTI STATS MLS Correspondent

SEATTLE (STATS) -- Patrick Ianni had a chance to make good. And the Seattle Sounders defender did so in dramatic fashion against the best team in MLS.

Ianni scored on a bicycle kick during the first minute of the second half on Saturday when the Sounders came from behind to knock off the league-leading Houston Dynamo, 2-1.

The goal was the first of the season for Ianni, who was stripped of the ball deep in Seattle territory early in the game, a play that help Dynamo take a 1-0 lead moments later.

"I was thinking about it every time we got a corner kick, that if I got a chance, I've got to get this one back, for my team" Ianni said after the Sounders (7-3-7) climbed within three points of Houston (9-4-4) in the Western Conference. "It's in the back of your head, for sure. Every set piece is a chance to help your team."

Brad Davis' third goal of the year provided an early 1-0 lead for the Dynamo, who were missing leading scorers Brian Ching (five goals) and Stuart Holden (four) to the U.S. Gold Cup team.

Fredy Montero extended his goal-scoring streak to five games for Seattle with his ninth of the year, tying it in the 31st minute. Montero's shot was kicked out of the net by Dynamo defender Mike Chabala, but it was ruled to have crossed the goal line before Chabala got his foot on it.

Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear, whose team lost for the second time in the past three games, vehemently disagreed with the call on Montero's goal.

"I know for a fact it wasn't in," Kinnear said. "And I know for a fact that the referee, linesman, AR (assistant referee) -- whatever you want to call him -- was out of position. ? I know he's wrong. I'm sure he'll watch it and know he's made a mistake. But, it's too late."

Ianni netted his game-winner just 43 seconds into the second half. The play started with a corner kick from the right-wing side. Freddie Ljungberg drove the ball into the box, where Jhon Kennedy Hurtado headed it down to Ianni. With the ball on his right foot, Ianni bicycled it over goalkeeper Pat Onstad from the right side of the 6-yard box.

Ianni wasn't even aware he'd scored.

"I didn't hear any reaction. Then Fredy Montero shook me sort of," Ianni said of the ensuing celebration. "I looked in the goal to make sure he wasn't joking with me or something."

Houston took an early lead in the 12th minute. Dominic Oduro took the ball away from Ianni in the Sounders' penalty area and got it to Brian Mullan, who tapped it toward the top center of the box. Davis ran onto it and slammed it into the back right corner past goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

Montero's goal drew Seattle even. From just over midfield, Nate Jaqua launched a target ball deep inside the box on the left side. Montero chested it to his left foot, then, from about five yards away, fired a shot toward the near post. It got behind Onstad and went into the goal, but never touched the ground or the netting before Chabala kicked it out, though not in time

"Everything happened so quick," Montero said through a translator. "My first reaction was to raise my arm and go celebrate.

Sounders assistant coach Brian Schmetzer, who ran the team on Saturday while head coach Sigi Schmid was at his son's wedding in California, knew it was in only by watching everyone else.

"I immediately looked for the linesman, and he raised his flag and started running back," Schmetzer said. "During all the emotion (afterward), I didn't get to see it on the replay."

The Dynamo's MLS-record 28-game unbeaten streak when scoring came to an end. They were 9-0-2 this season when striking first.