HOUSTON — Montreal looked to be headed for its first victory in Houston in five tries after taking a lead early in the second half.
But in a three minute span, that all changed.
Two goals by Giles Barnes and the go-ahead goal by Ricardo Clark turned back the Impact in a 3-2 Dynamo victory Saturday night.
“We had momentum, and we needed to keep the ball a little bit more, don’t force it,” said Montreal coach Frank Klopas. “We were under control, and we lose momentum at times when we could be better with our decision making.
“I think a lot of positives, but disappointing that we give up three goals and lose a game that I think we should have walked away (from) with points.”
Klopas also blasted the officiating for what he thought should have been a late hand ball in the box on Houston.
Marco Di Vaio was passing the ball to Dilly Duka in the box in the 88th minute, and the ball appeared to deflect off Houston defender A.J. Cochran’s hand, but referee Fotis Bazakos did not blow the whistle to award Montreal a penalty kick.
“In the end, we had a clear penalty at the end of the game,” Klopas said. “With this referee, I don’t know if it’s because he’s Greek, and I am Greek or if we don’t get any calls because we are Montreal but something has to change. We need to start getting some calls.
“I’m not saying to give us calls, but clear 100 per cent, and it’s not given. The league has to do something about that. It’s embarrassing.”
Duka agreed with his coach on the call.
“They got a ton more calls than us, a lot more,” Duka said. “I didn’t see many go our way. Again, that’s not what cost us the game.”
Montreal (5-15-5, 20 points) took a 2-1 lead in the 55th minute on a goal by Ignacio Piatti. Di Vaio fed a through ball to Piatti, who got behind three Dynamo defenders and scored from the top of the box past a sliding tackle from Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric.
Houston (9-13-4, 31 points) responded with Barnes’ second goal of the night in the 62nd minute, taking a cross from Omar Cummings in the middle of the box and hitting a left-footed one-timer inside the far post. Barnes put the Dynamo up 1-0 in the 30th minute.
“It’s difficult,” Duka said. “A team like Houston will punish you. They have some quality players, and if you turn off, they are going to punish you.”
After Cummings sent one off the crossbar in the 64th minute, Clark gave the Dynamo the 3-2 lead, tapping in a Brad Davis corner kick on the far post after David Horst headed it to him.
“When you give up three goals, you have to look at yourself in the mirror,” Montreal defender Wandrille Lefevre said. “Three goals is too much. You usually lose when you give up three goals.”
Montreal tied it 1-1 in the 40th minute after Duka took a pass from Felipe Martins at the top of the box and sent one inside the far post.
The Impact had a chance to continue their recent momentum. Entering winners of two of the last three, Montreal left Houston dropping its second in its last three and ninth in its last 11. Montreal remains the worst team in MLS.
“We scored two goals, and we should have won,” Klopas said. “Clear hand ball in the end and disappointed with the ref. Montreal Impact, we never get any calls. It’s a joke.”
