The Houston Dynamo cruised to a 4-1 away win over 10-man Chivas USA in their MLS clash despite falling behind early on.
The home team took the lead in the seventh minute when Carlos Alvarez was brought down in the area by Brad Davis. Erick Torres took the penalty and fired the ball past Tally Hall.
Houston responded and were level within five minutes as Davis atoned for his error, when he capitalised on a mistake in the Chivas backline and placed a low shot into the bottom corner.
Davis could have given his side the lead when Oscar Boniek Garcia cut the ball back to him inside the area, but he blasted his shot well over the bar.
However, the Dynamo did go ahead in the 32nd minute when Giles Barnes scored a brilliant goal from distance, drilling the ball with his right foot past Tim Melia after cutting in from the left wing.
Houston got a third goal just before half time when Will Bruin latched onto Corey Ashe's cross into the box and slotted the ball past Melia.
After the break, matter got worse for the home side when Melia was sent off for bringing down Bruin when he was through on goal and a penalty was awarded.
Barnes took the spot kick and scored his second goal of the night, beating substitute keeper Trevor Spangenberg to seal the victory for his side.
Simon Sinclair
