Revs Upset Houston Dynamo

Dube Goal Lifts New England to Win Over Top MLS Team

July 26, 2009

Kheli Dube�s 76th minute goal and Matt Reis� third consecutive shutout gave the New England Revolution a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium on Saturday night.

New England (6-5-5, 23 points) extended its shutout streak to 351 minutes, 33 shy of the club�s record streak, set in 2005. The team has not surrendered a goal since the eighth minute at Los Angeles on July 4 � and has posted shutouts against Kansas City (0-0), Chivas USA (2-0) and the Dynamo in the last three games.

The loss by Houston (9-5-5, 32 points) snapped the team�s 17-game home undefeated streak, dating back to June 12, 2008 � a 2-0 loss to the Revolution. The team was 12-0-5 in that span, and fell one game shy of the league�s record for undefeated streaks at home.

Dube�s goal was his second in as many games, and came after captain Steve Ralston flicked a long pass out of the back over Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad�s dive, allowing Dube the tap in from six yards out.

Despite heavy pressure from Houston in the game�s closing minutes as they pressed for the equalizer � earning three corner kicks � they were unable to convert, allowing the Revs to remain undefeated all-time in Houston against the Dynamo.

Neither team was able to connect for a goal in the first half, although Dube had the Revolution�s best chance of the frame, heading Kenny Mansally�s cross into the side netting in the 29th minute. However, neither team was able to break through and the teams went to the locker room tied at nil-nil.

After the scoreless first half, Sainey Nyassi had a chance to give the Revs a lead just after the half kicked off, but his shot off Steve Ralston�s short layoff hit the post.

Houston�s Ricardo Clark then had a chance in the 56th minute with a flicked on header off Craig Waibel�s cross, but Reis responded with lunging save to smother the shot. On the ensuing return trip downfield, the Revs had a go when Dube and Onstad got tangled going after a loose ball off Mansally�s cross, but the ball trickled over the end line for a Revs corner.

After several chances on both sides, Dube finally opened the Revs� account in the 76th minute, slotting home a cunning Ralston chipped pass across the box. Kevin Alston�s pinpoint pass out of the backfield found Ralston on the run, who took a touch into the box to put the Revolution into position.

Reis kept the shutout in check in the first minute of stoppage time when he punched Julius James� header over the crossbar when it had eyes for the goal off a corner kick.