HOUSTON — Brad Davis scored in the 13th minute, Brian Ching netted a goal in the 43rd and Houston extended its unbeaten streak to five games with a 2-0 win over Columbus tonight.

Davis gave the Dynamo a 1-0 lead when Brian Mullan delivered a pass from the upper right corner to the middle of the arc, where Davis fired a bullet into the upper left net.

Ching, a Kamehameha alum from Hale'iwa, added a second Dynamo goal before the half. Nate Jaqua gained control of a ball in the middle of the box and passed it to Ching, who nailed a shot into the lower left corner. Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer was badly fooled on Ching's shot, going to his left when the shot went right.

The Crew had two good chances to score in the 60th and 61st minutes off shots by Alejandro Moreno and Guillermo Barros Schelotto, but Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad stopped both. Onstad finished with three saves.

Houston (6-4-8, 26 points) climbed within a point of first place Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference.

Columbus (9-6-4, 31) lost for the first time in three games and missed a chance to overtake idle New England for first place in the Eastern Conference. The Crew remain two points behind the Revolution.