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Davis, Jaqua help Dynamo dominate Wizards

Sep 7, 2008 - 10:57 PM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Dynamo extended their stranglehold on the top of the Western Conference on Sunday, manhandling the Kansas City Wizards with a 3-1 victory.

Already holding a four-point lead in the West over second-place Real Salt Lake (8-8-7), the Dynamo (10-5-8) extended it to seven thanks to a two-goal performance by Nate Jaqua.

"We had quite a few chances in the first half, we were well-deserved (leaders) at halftime," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "I told the guys, 'Don't make life difficult for yourselves, and try and keep playing attacking soccer.' And they did that (and received) two good goals by Nate Jaqua."

Brad Davis got the Dynamo out to an early lead in the 28th minute, receiving a pass from Kei Kamara inside the box and punching it through for his third goal of the season.

"Looking at Kansas City's last few results, we knew that if we got out and put some pressure on them, maybe make it into their goal, their heads were going to go down," Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson said. "We knew that mentally, if this beautiful weather today wouldn't get to them, just being down might."

He nearly added another score 13 minutes later, but his shot sailed wide left. Jaqua made up for it in the second half, scoring a pair of goals to put the match out of reach.

After finding a crease in front of the net in the 54th minute and scoring off assists from Kamara and Stuart Holden, he made it 3-0 in the 67th minute for his fifth goal of the season.

Houston improved to 8-1-3 at home, its only blemish a 2-0 loss to the New England Revolution on June 12.

"I think that we are playing well, especially at home," Jaqua said. "Don't feel like there is any team that can beat us here, and even on the road I feel like we are doing well, so we should keep on a roll. We have San Jose next week and want to keep it going."

Davy Arnaud scored an unassisted goal for Kansas City (6-9-8) in the 87th minute, but by that point the match was all but decided.