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Espindola, Steele power N.Y. past Houston

Jun 30, 2013 - 8:09 PM Harrison, NJ (Sports Network) - Red Bull New York snapped a three-game winless run on Sunday by picking up a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo at Red Bull Arena.

The Red Bulls came into the clash having lost back-to-back matches for the first time this season, but second-half strikes from Fabian Espindola and Jonny Steele helped New York (8-6-4) avoid a third straight defeat as the club rises to second place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points.

Houston (6-6-5) sees its winless run extended to seven games with the loss. The club's scoring woes also continued as the Dynamo were held scoreless for the third straight match.

After a scoreless opening period in which the two sides traded a handful of opportunities on the offensive end, the Red Bulls finally broke the deadlock at the hour mark.

Eric Alexander threaded a perfectly-weighted through ball for Espindola from the right flank, allowing the Argentine striker to switch it onto his left foot before slipping a low shot past Tally Hall.

New York applied more pressure on the Houston net for the remainder of the match as Peguy Luyindula, Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill came close on several occasions only to be denied by Hall's flurry of point-blank saves to keep the visitors within touching distance.

But the Dynamo ultimately fell further behind as Henry connected with Steele two minutes from time to see the Red Bulls claim an insurance goal.

The Frenchman collected possession near the right side of the pitch and drifted inside before finding the surging run of Steele. The 27-year-old latched on to Henry's splitting pass and roofed a left-footed rocket into the upper corner.