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.