Holden’s early goal enough to keep Houston rolling with 1-0 win over Fire

Holden’s goal enough to keep Houston rolling

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Stuart Holden scored in the fourth minute and the Houston Dynamo held on to beat the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Fire 1-0 and extend their unbeaten streak to eight games on Friday.

Holden’s goal came on the only shot on goal for the Dynamo (6-2-3), who have won three in a row to move within three points of first-place Chivas USA in the West.

Chivas will host Houston on Wednesday.

The Dynamo have outscored opponents 12-2 over their last eight games while going 6-0-2.

The Fire (5-2-6), who have lost consecutive games after opening the season with a club-record 11-game unbeaten streak, managed seven shots but only two on net. They’re 0-2-3 at home since a 1-0 victory over New York on April 5.

Holden scored after a run into the center of the box, where forward Kei Kamara found him with a through-ball. Holden chipped a shot over sprawling Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch for his third goal of the season and second in as many games.

Chicago’s best chance came in the 36th minute when Marco Pappa found Brian McBride at the far post on a corner kick. The forward headed a pass to Patrick Nyarko at the opposite post, but his point-blank header was blocked on the goal line by Dynamo midfielder Richard Mulrooney.

Information from: STATS LLC, www.stats.com