San Jose tops Houston, stays above playoff line in the West

Cristian Arango and Preston Judd each scored goals and the visiting San Jose Earthquakes remained above the playoff line in the Western Conference with a 2-1 victory Saturday over the Houston Dynamo.

The Earthquakes (9-11-8, 35 points) continued their offensive assault, tying San Diego FC for the Western Conference lead in goals scored with 52. The victory ended San Jose's eight-match losing streak at Houston.

Daniel made three saves for San Jose, which improved to 2-1-0 in August after going 0-3-2 in MLS play in July, while also getting eliminated from U.S. Open Cup play.

Antonio Carlos scored a goal for the Dynamo (7-12-8, 29 points), who could have pulled even with the Earthquakes in the West standings with a victory. Jonathan Bond made two saves for Houston, which is 0-1-2 since the end of Leagues Cup play.

The Dynamo were on a run of three consecutive draws in MLS play going back to July 19.

The Earthquakes took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute, when Arango scored on a long cross by DeJuan Jones from the right corner that Preston Judd let pass through with a slight touch. Arango's sliding goal was his 12th of the season to tie Josef Martinez for the team lead.

The Dynamo appeared to tie the score in first-half stoppage time but Ezequiel Ponce's goal was denied when he was ruled offside.

San Jose made it 2-0 in the 64th minute when a deflected ball rolled toward the top of the Dynamo penalty area Ian Harkes sent a rocket through traffic that deflected off Judd's leg and got past Bond.

The Dynamo received a gift in the 72nd minute when Carlos' soft header off a corner kick slipped through the hands of Daniel to cut the deficit in half.

San Jose won without Martinez on the bench to start the match. He came on as a substitute in the 79th minute for Arango after Judd started in his place.

--Field Level Media