It took 16 games for the Houston Dynamo to win a regular season match on the road in 2011. It took only one game for Houston to accomplish that feat in 2012, after Andre Hainaults stoppage-time goal gave the Dynamo a 1-0 win over Chivas USA, Sunday afternoon at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
The Dynamo controlled the run-of-play for much of the afternoon, outshooting Chivas USA 9-2 and forcing Goats goalkeeper Dan Kennedy to make seven saves for the game.
Houston nearly got on the board in the 13th minute when Geoff Cameron played a long ball over the top of the defense to Brian Ching. The Dynamo captain dribbled toward goal but could not get the shot off before Kennedy came off his line to smother the ball.
The Dynamo continued to press and found another opening in the 25th minute. Bobby Boswell played a through ball to Will Bruin who went one-on-one with Kennedy. The Chivas goalkeeper stayed big, though, and used his leg to deflect the shot attempt.
The home squads best opportunity came late in the first half off a corner kick from Laurent Courtois. Goats forward Juan Pablo Angel beat the defender to the ball, but his volley hit off the inside of the near post and was cleared away.
Houston continued to push for the games first goal and nearly found it in the 74th minute. After Kennedy parried away a long-range bomb from Adam Moffat, the Chivas goalkeeper was forced into action again when the ball landed at the foot of Will Bruin. The second-year striker took one touch and fired the ball on target but Kennedy pushed the attempt to the side. Bruin led Houston with four shot attempts including three on goal.
With time running out and one point seemingly in the bag, the Dynamo found the late-game heroics that were prevalent in 2011. In the second minute of stoppage-time, Brad Davis sent in a corner kick that was headed out to Moffat. The Scotsman controlled the ball and sent it back toward the net. Hainault picked up the Moffat pass eight yards away from goal, spun, and fired past a helpless Kennedy. The goal was Hainaults fifth of his career.
Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall recorded two saves in the game en route to his eighth career shutout.
The win was also the 101st regular season victory for Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear.
