Alex scored a late winner to fire the Houston Dynamo to a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in their MLS clash.
The visitors carved out the first opportunity of the game when Quincy Amarikwa found Marc Pelosi in the box, but he pulled his effort wide of the post.
Houston hit back with a good chance as Miranda released the run of Will Bruin down the right, who fired the ball across the face of goal, but Brad Davis was unable to convert the cross in the middle.
San Jose threatened when Chris Wondolowski collected a through ball and fired at goal from close range, but he drilled his shot straight at Joe Willis.
In the second half, Houston took the lead when DaMarcus Beasley raided past two defenders into the box and slotted the ball past David Bingham at his near post.
The visitors were then reduced to 10 men as Fatai Alashe was sent off for his second bookable offence for a challenge on Giles Barnes.
However, the Earthquakes did find an equaliser when Sanna Nyassi lifted a ball to the back post for the run of Amarikwa, who tapped the ball home on the goalline.
The Dynamo rallied and secured the victory as Oscar Boniek played Sheanon Williams down the flank and the winger fired at goal, and Alex was there to turn the ball past Bingham into the net.
Simon Sinclair
