HOUSTON — The Rapids may be standing atop the Western Conference standings, but some things just don’t seem to change.
Colorado still can’t win in Houston. And Dynamo forward Brian Ching seems to nearly always find a way to beat the Rapids’ defense for a goal.
Looking to get a winning streak going for the first time this season, the Rapids were stopped cold, losing 2-1 to the Dynamo before an announced crowd of 15,024 at Robertson Stadium.
Omar Cummings seemed to have Colorado poised for a point on the road when he tied the score at 1-1 in the 68th minute after Ching had put the hosts ahead in the first half.
But a late penalty-kick goal by midfielder Dwayne De Rosario gave the Dynamo (1-2-4, seven points) its first victory of the season.
Despite the defeat, the Rapids (3-4-0, nine points) retained their share of first place in the Western Conference after FC Dallas’ 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake.
“The only problem we had today was we couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net,” Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo said. “We played hard. We worked extremely hard. I felt the first goal was a fluke. I still have to see the first goal (on tape) and see how that happened.”
Still, the result against the two-time defending Major League Soccer champions stung because both Dynamo goals came off gaffes by Rapids players.
De Rosario’s spot-kick goal came as a result of a hand ball in the Rapids’ box courtesy of defender Ugo Ihemelu in the 86th minute.
Referee Tim Weyland seemed to hesitate on the call but after a couple of seconds ran to the goalie box pointing to the penalty-kick spot.
Clavijo refused to comment directly on the play, but his few words told the tale.
“Let me put it this way,” Clavijo said, visibly irritated. “As a coach, I have to decide between being fined or suspended, and I don’t want to do that.”
A lapse in judgment by keeper Bouna Coundoul in the first half cost Colorado just as much.
Dynamo forward Stuart Holden played a deep pass to Ching. Instead of waiting for Ching to control the ball, Coundoul came out of the box and tried to clear it with his foot. He whiffed, and Ching scored.
“I don’t know what (Coundoul) was thinking,” Ching said.
Cummings scored off a great through ball by Christian Gomez.
“We played extremely hard,” Clavijo said. “I thought we had a chance to get out of here with at least one point.”
Colorado 0 1 — 1
Houston 1 1 — 2
Scoring — First half: 1, Houston, Ching 1 (Holden), 43rd minute. Second half: 2, Colorado, Cummings 2 (Gomez), 68th; 3, Houston, De Rosario 1 (penalty kick), stoppage time.
Goalies — Colorado, Coundoul; Houston, Onstad. A — 15,024.
