MLS

• Ching leads Dynamo over Rapids at DSG Park

  
  

  Commerce City, CO (Sports Network) - The Houston Dynamo used a first half goal-scoring outburst from forward Brian Ching - who tallied two goals and an assist in the first 19 minutes - to earn a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Major League Soccer action on Saturday night.

  With the win, Houston takes a four-point lead at the top of the Western Conference table with a game in hand on second-placed Chivas USA.

  The Rapids, on the other hand, fall to fourth in the table, two points from the third and final automatic playoff spot in the West.

  The game started with a bang, with three goals scored in the first 10 minutes, two by Ching.

  Ching earned his first just two minutes in when he ran onto a bouncing ball in the Rapids' penalty area and chipped a shot over an onrushing Preston Burpo to make it 1-0.

  Rapids forward Conor Casey leveled things up just five minutes later when he knocked in a bouncing ball in the box after a corner kick from Terry Cooke. The goal was Casey's fourth in the past two games and ninth of the season.

  But just two minutes later Ching made it 2-1 for the visitors when he headed a Brad Davis free kick off the crossbar. The ball then deflected off Ching and into net for his 12th goal of the season.

  Ricardo Clark gave the Dynamo a 3-1 lead 10 minutes later after he was left unmarked just outside the Rapids' penalty area. Ching played him the ball before he fired a 25-yard shot just inside the near post past Burpo. It was Clark's second goal of the season.

  That was how the score stayed as the teams traded penalty kick misses in the second half and Casey was given a second yellow card in the 53rd minute to force his team to play a man down the rest of the game.

  The Dynamo (11-5-10) host D.C. United on Oct. 12 in their next league fixture while Colorado (10-13-4) plays at the Los Angeles Galaxy the same day.

  10/04 23:45:05 ET