Dynamo open season with 4-0 beating of Revolution

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Walking up the tunnel at halftime Saturday night, Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear was pleased but admittedly bewildered.He expected his perennial MLS power to give the orange-clad crowd at BBVA Compass Stadium a great show, and he was optimistic about beating the New England Revolution.

The Dynamo, after all, usually win at home. But Kinnear was stunned at how quickly and consistently Will Bruin and the Dynamo dominated the Revolution.

Most fans were barely getting back in rhythm with the drum beats emanating from the south end of BBVA Compass Stadium, and some were trying to find their seats when Bruin set the best possible tone for the 4-0 victory.

Bruin needed only 64 seconds to find the back of the net for his first of two goals as the Dynamo established firm control in the MLS season opener.

"I thought the first half an hour, possibly you could say it's the best I've ever seen this team play, and that's saying something," Kinnear said of the two-time MLS Cup champions and four-time finalists. "I thought the goals were excellent. Our reaction when the ball turned over was really good and we were really sharp in front of goal. A great night for us."

An Orange crush

Houston's Will Bruin, right, scores his second goal of the match in the thirteenth minute past New England goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth during the first half of a MLS soccer game, Saturday, March 8, 2014, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. less Houston's Will Bruin, right, scores his second goal of the match in the thirteenth minute past New England goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth during the first half of a MLS soccer game, Saturday, March 8, 2014, at ... more Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle Image 1 of / 36 Caption Close Dynamo open season with 4-0 beating of Revolution 1 / 36 Back to Gallery

Bruin added an assist before a BBVA Compass Stadium-record sellout crowd of 22,320, dominating what was expected to be a competitive match between two teams that reached the Eastern Conference playoffs last year.

The rout could have been worse if goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth had not made sensational saves to deny Bruin and Omar Cummings goals on breakaway, one-on-one opportunities.

Shortly after kickoff, Brad Davis fed the ball to Bruin just outside the 18-yard box. Bruin then sent it out wide. Midfielder Tony Cascio redirected it to right back Kofi Sarkodie, who curled a cross back into the box. Bruin stretched out to keep the ball in front of him before turning and firing a half volley into the net to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead in the 64th second.

Bruin added a goal in the 13th minute after Corey Ashe delivered a brilliant cross from the left corner of the 18-yard box. Desperate to extinguish Ashe's threat, the Revolution defenders descended on forward Giles Barnes at the near post and didn't realize Bruin had escaped unmarked toward the far post. Ashe delivered a perfect assist at Bruin's feet.

"That's a great start to the season getting that goal in the first two minutes," Bruin said. "It's kind of a dream start as a forward and then you get to play more freely and you go forward and you get to take chances to get more goals.

"The second one Corey put a great ball in. Giles brought both defenders with him on the near post, and I just had to tap it in. That was good, and then I think I had three minutes on that breakaway that I missed. When I start thinking that's when I miss."

Garcia converts

Bruin, who vowed to be more of a provider this year, delivered an assist in the 23rd minute from inside the box for Boniek Garcia to rip a rocket past Shuttleworth.

Cummings capped the scoring in stoppage time when Ricardo Clark's shot deflected off his noggin and into the net.

"You're happy that it's 4-0," Kinnear said. "But like I said, you don't come to the stadium saying 'We're going to win 4-0 tonight.'

"Obviously we have the potential for that to happen, but at halftime walking up the tunnel I was a little bit dumbfounded because we didn't expect it. But I will say I have a great seat watching these guys play, and they were excellent."