Dynamo score four in first half to rout Atlanta

The Houston Dynamo kicked off the MLS season with a bang, routing visiting Atlanta United 4-0 Saturday in a battle between teams with high hopes at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Andrew Wenger, Phillippe Senderos, Maura Manotas and Darwin Ceren scored in the first half, and Dynamo keeper Chris Seitz recorded a clean sheet in an impressive all-around showing for Houston.

Atlanta reached the playoffs in its inaugural campaign last year and enters this season among the favorites in the Eastern Conference, but never got going against the Dynamo.

Just five minutes in, Houston's Alberth Elis outhustled an Atlanta defender for a loose ball near the back line and deftly delivered a right-to-left cross to Wenger for the tap-in goal that gave Houston an early lead.

Senderos headed in a corner kick at the 23-minute mark, and four minutes later Manotas found the net to put the Dynamo comfortably in front 3-0.

But Houston wasn't through.

Darwin Ceren, in his Dynamo debut, banged home a volley off a poor decision by Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan that gave Houston a 4-0 cushion heading into halftime. Guzan came off his line to get a hand on a bending ball in front of the net, but deflected it back into play for Ceren to finish.

Nine of Houston's 10 shots in the first half were on target. Atlanta managed just one shot on goal, a crisp blast from Julian Gressel that was knocked away by a diving Seitz.

Seitz turned away Atlanta's two shots on frame in the shutout.

Atlanta was without its top offseason acquisition in Argentinian midfielder Ezequiel Barco, who suffered a quad strain earlier in the week and is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Atlanta will look to bounce back at home against D.C. United on March 11. The Dynamo host Vancouver on March 10.

-- Field Level Media