SEATTLE (AP) — Crisitan Roldan scored from outside the penalty area for the second straight week, lifting the Seattle Sounders to a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night in a meeting between two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Roldan's half-volley goal from 25 yards in the fifth minute was enough to give Seattle (6-1-4) its first victory since April 13 and bumped the Sounders into a tie with the L.A. Galaxy for second in the West, each with 22 points. Seattle had tied its previous three matches. Roldan's goal was his third of the season and was similar in quality to his goal last week against Minnesota United in Seattle's 1-1 draw.
Houston (6-2-1) lost for just the second time all season and was shut out for the first time. The Dynamo entered the week as one of five teams in the league averaging more than two goals per game, but was held to just 11 total shots and only one on target. Houston had opportunities but Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas and Tommy McNamara all failed to get clear scoring chances on net. McNamara missed the target from 12 yards out in the 81st minute in what proved to be the final good scoring chance for the Dynamo.
Seattle allowed Houston to hang around by failing to capitalize on its chances for a second goal following Roldan's early goal. Nicolas Lodeiro had a first-half scoring attempt ricochet off the crossbar and Harry Shipp had Seattle's best scoring chance in the opening minutes of the second half, only to see his curling shot tipped wide by Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis.
