Dramatic late goal gives Houston 2:1 win over San Francisco, USA first victory in Champions League

October 8, 2008

HOUSTON – Dwayne DeRosario scored in the 88th minute with a 25-yard blast and the Houston Dynamo earned the first victory by a team from USA’s Major League Soccer in the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday, 2:1 over San Francisco FC.

DeRosario, who replaced Nate Jaqua in the 72nd minute, drove down the middle of the field before unleashing a right-footed shot just inside the right post.

The victory ended a nine-game winless streak by MLS teams – including six losses, and moved the Dynamo into a tie with Pumas UNAM atop Group B with five points. Pumas was to play Thursday at CD Luis Angel Firpo.

The match was Houston’s first home game in the Champions League™ after it was forced to postpone its opener at Robertson Stadium on 17 September because of the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. It then played to a 0:0 draw at San Francisco and a 4:4 draw at Pumas last week.

The Dynamo led when Chris Wondolowski capitalized on an opening flurry of pressure by Houston. Wondolowski, who has played in only seven games and started one this season in MLS, forced a save from San Francisco keeper goalkeeper Carlos Valdes in the 10th minute and then two minutes later headed in a cross from Corey Ashe.

Temistocles Perez equalized with his second goal of the tournament. San Francisco, which has scored only one goal in four games since the Preliminary Round, took advantage when Houston goalkeeper Antony Caig wandered off his line. Perez sprinted to a flicked on header from Eduardo Jimenez and lofted a ball from 35 yards over the head of Caig.

“It’s three points at the end of the day,” Houston defender Wade Barrett said. “It wasn’t our best. But we’re on our home pitch and we did enough to get the job done.”

The Dynamo the majority of possession and chances, particularly in the second half. Wondolowski had Houston’s best opportunity in the 81st before the goal, taking a chipped pass from DeRosario in the area but following with a lofted shot over a sprawled Valdes and off the post. Six minutes later Patrick Ianni bounced a corner kick with a header just over the bar.

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