Houston Dynamo hand Colorado Rapids ninth-straight loss

Tomas Martinez and Mauro Manotas scored goals six minutes apart in the first half to help the Houston Dynamo to a 2-0 victory over the hapless and short-handed Colorado Rapids on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium in downtown Houston.

The Dynamo snapped a two-match MLS losing streak with the victory, while Colorado lost for the eighth straight time in MLS play and ninth consecutive game in all competitions, including its 2-0 loss to second-division United Soccer League side Nashville SC on Wednesday in the U.S. Open Cup.

The Rapids' losing streak is the longest in MLS this season.

Colorado was forced to play the entire second half down a man after Yannick Boli was assessed a red card during first-half stoppage time for putting his hands in the face of the Dynamo's Leonardo.

The match had already slipped away from the Rapids before Boli's infraction, which only served to set the table for a ragged final 45 minutes and continued head-scratching for Colorado.

The lone saving grace for the Rapids were goalkeeper Tim Howard's seven saves.

Houston outshot the Rapids 20-2 and enjoyed a 8-1 advantage in shots on target. That one shot on goal was more than Colorado managed in its 2-0 loss to Nashville on Wednesday.

Martinez made a move from his left to his right foot near the penalty spot in the 30th minute before uncorking a shot that was saved by Howard. But the ball bounded right back to the foot of Martinez, who didn't miss the second chance to put the Dynamo in front 1-0.

Houston added to its lead in the 36th minute on a penalty kick by Manotas, who went to the spot after DaMarcus Beasley was pulled down inside the box by Boli.

The two teams will not play next weekend with the World Cup set to begin on June 14.

The Rapids will have one more game before the break -- on Wednesday at home versus Chicago. Houston returns to action on June 23 when it travels to Sporting Kansas City.