Houston Halts Streaking D.C. United

Top Teams Meet, Ching's Shot Is The Difference: Dynamo 1, United 0

Bobby Boswell gets a leg up on Brian Ching of the Dynamo in the first half, but Ching would later net the game-winning goal. (Kevin Fujii - AP)

HOUSTON, July 8 -- In the end, the difference between the hottest teams in MLS was a subtle, redirected shot in the first half by Brian Ching that provided the reigning champion Houston Dynamo with a 1-0 victory over D.C. United before 15,033 at Robertson Stadium on Sunday night.

But United's concerns ran deeper than a goal that handed D.C. (7-5-2) only its second loss in 10 games and extended the Dynamo's unbeaten streak to eight and its shutout run to 515 minutes.

United's attack barely showed life and, other than two prime opportunities before halftime, the club posed no threat to veteran goalkeeper Pat Onstad and his flawless back line.

"They're a good team, they know what they are doing and they outmatched us," said midfielder Ben Olsen, who made his first appearance since returning from U.S. duty at Copa America.

United's frustration with its own play, with Houston's disruptive tactics and perhaps with referee Brian Hall culminated in the final moments when Christian Gomez grabbed the ball and slammed it into the ground, drawing a yellow card.

"We let ourselves down in possession and just didn't really create a whole lot," goalkeeper Troy Perkins said. "Defensively they just kind of bunkered in and we couldn't do enough to break them."

United was bolstered by the return of Olsen and defender Bobby Boswell, who flew here from Venezuela. After discussing their fitness level with the coaching staff, they found themselves in the starting lineup. For Olsen, there did not seem to be any lingering issues because he did not play in the U.S. team's finale Thursday against Colombia. Boswell went the distance in that match, but did not play the first two games.

While Coach Tom Soehn was happy to have Olsen back on the field, a move that returned Justin Moose to the bench, he was especially eager to pair Boswell with Greg Vanney in central defense for the first time. Vanney, acquired in a June 29 trade with Colorado, had worked with Devon McTavish on Wednesday at Kansas City, but the Vanney-Boswell combo was the tandem United envisioned when it made the deal with the Rapids.

McTavish, a standout in the victory over the Wizards, remained in the lineup, though, but at right back, in place of Clyde Simms, a midfielder who seemed a bit uncomfortable on the back line the previous two matches.

The match opened at a steady pace and, before long, scoring opportunities surfaced.

Gomez's 35-yard free kick went untouched in the middle of the box and took a big bounce off the crossbar. Ching slammed a half-volley that nicked Boswell and forced Perkins to reach back and slap it away at the near post. Onstad made a one-on-one save on Luciano Emilio, who had muscled the ball from Eddie Robinson at the top of the box.

"You've got to finish those, and in tight matches, you are going to get one, two, three chances," Soehn said.