Patrick Ianni was at fault for the Houston Dynamo's opening goal, but redeemed himself less than two minutes into the second half by scoring the eventual game winner as the Sounders are now unbeaten in their last five games.

Seattle (7-3-7, 28 points) leapfrogged Chivas USA (8-4-3, 27 points) into second place in the MLS Western Conference. Houston (9-4-4, 31 points) maintained their status as league and conference leaders. Chivas, who have two games in hand, play the Los Angeles Galaxy in the SuperClasico later tonight.

The match started out all wrong for the Seattle Sounders as defender Patrick Ianni, starting for Tyrone Marshall who is on international duty with Jamaica, was unable to clear a loose ball inside the Seattle 18-yard box. The ball ended up on the left foot of Brad Davis who made no mistake, slotting his shot just inside Kasey Keller's left post giving the Dynamo the lead after only 12 minutes.

After the goal, Seattle started to settle down and started to settle into a rhythm.  However, Brad Davis came within a whisker of doubling Houston's lead with a free kick in the 26th minute.  His left footed effort from 28 yards missed Keller's far post by a matter of inches.

In the 32nd minute the Sounders would equalize, albeit controversially, through their talisman Fredy Montero. His partner up front, Nate Jaqua, played a long ball into the box from the right side. Montero did well to control the ball of his chest before deftly looping the ball over an oncoming Pat Onstad. 

Dynamo left back Mike Chabala did well to recover and volleyed the ball away from the goal, but not before the assistant referee waved his flag, indicating the ball has crossed the goal line. Replays, however, appeared to show that in fact the ball did not cross the line.  Houston's protest were to no avail, however, and the goal was allowed to stand. 

The goal was Montero's ninth on the season, and fifth in as many games.

Full of confidence from the goal, and encouraged by the raucous Qwest Field crowd of 32,404, the Sounders set out in search of an equalizer. In the 43rd minute, Stephen King broke down the right side of the box and played the ball across the goal mouth. Steve Zakuani was there but only a one-handed save from Pat Onstad kept the scores level.

After the break, the Sounders wasted no time in searching for the go ahead goal. A Freddie Ljungberg corner kick was headed down by Zakuani, and Patrick Ianni hit a clever overhead kick from the corner of the goal box right inside the far post. 

The goal was Ianni's first on the season, and redeemed himself for his egregious mistake earlier in the game.

Houston, who were without main scoring threat Brian Ching and influential midfielder Stuart Holden, struggled to create opportunities in the second half. Ade Akinbiyi came on for Dominic Oduro in the 63rd minute, but was unable to register even a shot on goal.

Substitute Danny Cruz, who came on for Brian Mullan, registered Houston's only shot on goal in the second half, a drive from the top of the box which was handled easily by Keller.

In the end, the shorthanded Dynamo were outmatched by the Sounders. Assistant Coach Brian Schmetzer was able to keep the Sounders organized defensively in the absence of Sigi Schmid, who was attending his son's wedding in California.

Source: Click Here