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Dynamo aim to halt skid against TFC

Jun 21, 2013 - 8:42 PM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Dynamo will aim to get back on the winning track on Saturday when the club hosts Toronto FC at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The Dynamo come into the match riding a four-game winless run in league play and hope Toronto will be just what they need to put that streak to bed.

Last time out, Houston got off to a slow start against Eastern Conference leading Montreal and never recovered as the Impact rolled to a 2-0 victory at Saputo Stadium.

Houston conceded a goal in the opening quarter-hour for the first time this season when Felipe found the back of the net from close range. A wonderful through ball from Patrice Bernier beat the Dynamo's offside trap and found the Brazilian, who finished by poking the ball in between Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall's legs.

The Dynamo had a chance to draw level when Will Bruin was clipped inside the Montreal penalty area. Giles Barnes stepped up to take the spot kick but fired it well over the bar.

Montreal put the game away in the 32nd minute as a misplayed pass by Corey Ashe allowed Marco Di Vaio to race onto the ball and lob it over the head of Hall.

"I think they came out stronger than us in the first twenty minutes, they outplayed us and sometimes how you start the game dictates the rest of the game," Hall said. "We dug ourselves in a hole that we weren't able to get ourselves out of. As a team, we did well to create ourselves chances and we were a little bit unlucky to come out of here with no goals, but we have to give credit where credit is due and Montreal came out stronger than us and started the game off better."

Toronto. meanwhile, topped D.C. United, 2-1, last week to put an end to an 11- game winless run.

Toronto fell behind early when Nick DeLeon was brought down in the box by Gale Agbossoumonde in the 18th minute and Dwayne De Rosario buried the penalty kick to give his side the lead.

But TFC responded when Robert Earnshaw latched onto a long ball from Steven Caldwell and headed it past United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.

Toronto took the lead for good shortly before the break when Luis Silva sent a free kick into the box that deflected off the head of Daniel Woolard and by Hamid for United's third own-goal of the season, and their second set-piece mistake of the match.

The win was the first for Toronto FC in league play since March 9.

"The performances had been there and we just had not been the getting the end product in points," TFC head coach Ryan Nelsen said. "I think it was a really professional performance today, and the players deserved the three points.

"We have to learn how to win at this club. Sometimes it hurts before it gets better. We saw it out very well today. The defenders stepped up when they needed to and the midfielders were brilliant today in controlling the midfield."

In 14 all-time meetings between the clubs, Houston holds a 4-3-7 edge. Earlier this season, Warren Creavalle netted a stoppage-time equalizer to salvage a 1-1 draw for the Dynamo at BMO Field on April 20.