Casey leads Colorado to 3-0 win over Houston

Soccer Betting Lines

08/28/2010 - Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Conor Casey had a goal and two assists in the first 23 minutes and the Colorado Rapids defeated the short-handed Houston Dynamo, 3-0, on Saturday in Major League Soccer at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Casey assisted on Jamie Smith's first goal of the season less than two minutes into the match, set up Omar Cummings' sixth goal of the season in the 16th and added his eighth goal of the year in the 23rd.

Colorado (8-6-7) had just one win in its last 10 games, a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes thanks to an own goal, but cruised to just its second victory since early June after Houston's Lovel Palmer was sent off in the 10th minute.

Houston (6-11-5) ended a 10-match winless streak last week with a 4-3 win over the Chicago Fire, but never recovered from Smith's early goal and Palmer's red card. The Dynamo have gone 42 league games without back-to-back wins.

Colorado grabbed the lead inside two minutes when Casey played Smith into the left side of the penalty area with a long pass from midfield. Smith placed the ball perfectly into the bottom-right corner to finish the play.

Palmer was sent off in the 10th minute after he tangled with Colorado's Pablo Mastroeni and kicked the Rapids' captain. Mastroeni received a yellow, but the Dynamo paid a much bigger price.

Casey set up Colorado's second goal with a perfect cross from the right that Cummings just had to direct across the line from six yards out just minutes after Houston went down a man.

After picking up his fourth and fifth assists of the year, Casey increased his goals total by scoring off a rebound. Mehdi Ballouchy forced Dynamo goalie Pat Onstad to stop a rocket from the edge of the box, but Casey was lurking at the back post and headed the ball into an empty net.

Rapids goalie Ian Joyce, making his first MLS start with Matt Pickens out with back spasms, denied Brian Mullan from close range in the 56th to keep Houston from getting back into the match. Joyce finished with fourth saves to earn his shutout.

Colorado can build on the win Sept. 4 when it hosts Chivas USA. Houston hopes to rebound Sept. 5 when it hosts the San Jose Earthquakes.

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Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

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