Houston, TX (My Sportsbook) - The Houston Dynamo earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Real Salt Lake when the two Major League Soccer clubs squared off at Robertson Stadium on Saturday night.

Brad Davis led the home side to its Western Conference leading 12th victory of the season, setting up two first-half goals before scoring the game winner with less than 10 minutes to play.

The Dynamo actually jumped out to a 2-0 lead inside five minutes to start the game after a Davis corner kick and free kick were pounded home by Brian Ching and Geoff Cameron.

With the assists on both goals, Davis became the second player in the league to reach double digits in assists this season.

But RSL, fighting to stay alive in the playoff race, answered by pulling a goal back in the 27th minute when Kyle Beckerman ran onto a through-ball that split the Dynamo defense at the top of the penalty area. Beckerman then placed a shot past Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad with his right foot for his third goal of the season.

RSL's chances at completing the comeback took a severe hit when defender Jamison Olave was shown a red card by referee Baldomero Toledo in the 32nd minute after a late tackle on Davis. But the visitors took the majority of the play to the Dynamo the rest of the half, giving them hope for after the break.

RSL was actually able to equalize at the hour mark despite playing a man down when Yura Movsisyan controlled a free kick that was flicked to him in the Houston area by Pablo Campos. Movsisyan took a touch inside before firing a low, left-footed shot past Onstad to tie the game at two.

That was how the score stayed until Davis' winner in the 81st minute. The left winger took a pass from Cameron at the top of the area and unleashed a left- footed rocket into the far post side netting to help the Dynamo earn the important victory, 3-2.

Houston (12-8-7) will aim build on the solid win when it hosts Kansas City in its next league fixture on Oct. 4, while RSL will aim to rebound at FC Dallas next Saturday.