Major League Soccer's playoff format doesn't exactly heap a treasure trove of rewards on the higher seeds in the semifinal series. But, oh, how the bounty comes tumbling in for the conference finals.
Houston did more than Kansas City during the regular season, and the team from south Texas will benefit fabulously for it. Following the home-and-away, aggregate goals format of the first round, it's all about a one-game dandy for a spot in the final. For Houston and visiting Kansas City, 90 minutes of playoff soccer at Robertson Stadium will decide who goes on to the 12th MLS Cup.
Will Houston and its tightly organized 4-4-2 work enough of the silver ball magic to secure a title defense in the Nov. 18 final at RFK Stadium? Or, will Kansas City, which missed the playoffs in 2005 and 2006 but regained postseason grace with a bold, attacking approach this year, hook its third title-game appearance overall?
Houston manager Dominic Kinnear and his Dynamo will get the significant boost of playing in their old-school, cozy grounds on the University of Houston campus. Kinnear and Co. have talked about the tremendous boost the loyal crowd in Houston provided last week, as more than 30,000 packed the house for a first-round match against Dallas.
"For me, personally, that crowd last Friday was the best atmosphere I've ever seen live as a player or a coach," Kinnear said.
Aside from the adrenaline burst that comes attached to playing at home, behind such impassioned support, there are telling numbers to consider here. For instance, the Wizards conceded 27 road goals this year and had a minus-4 goal difference overall away from home.
Contrast that to Houston's stingy ways at home. The best defensive team statistically ever in MLS was especially hard to get past at Robertson, where Houston allowed just 11 goals in 15 games this year. Overall, the Orange had a plus-11 goal difference at home.
That doesn't include a 4-1 win against Dallas last week as Houston secured its spot in the conference final. Last year's conference decider was also at Robertson, where Kinnear's men eliminated Chivas USA en route to the championship.
On the other hand, Kansas City is coming off a big achievement away from home. After posting a 1-0 win at home in the conference semifinal first leg, manager Curt Onalfo and his team fought off the Chivas USA offensive onslaught to emerge with a goalless draw, a one-goal margin on aggregate and a spot in Saturday's contest.
"We walk in very confident and 100 percent healthy," said Onalfo, 37, in his first year of professional coaching. "We are ready for what I would expect to be a very hostile environment in Houston."
They can be confident because of an explosive offense. Eddie Johnson and Scott Sealy have pace that can trouble defenders, even if Johnson hasn't maintained his torrid scoring rate from earlier in the season. Kansas City players haven't lost their attack-first mentality, but they have developed a better appreciation for what it takes on the other side, veteran defender Jimmy Conrad said.
"The guys realize what it takes to win a game of that magnitude, and the kind of commitment we have to put into it," Conrad said. "We had all 11 guys back behind the ball [against Chivas USA], doing the dirty work. We saw that when we have that kind of commitment, we can have success."
For the conference finals, in case of a tie after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time will be played. If the teams remain tied, the Western Conference representative will be decided in a penalty kick shootout. That might favor Houston's players, who can lean on the fond memories from last November, when they beat New England in spot kicks for the 11th MLS title. Current Dynamo players Stuart Holden, Brian Ching and Dwayne De Rosario converted shots that day.
Playoff checklist: Kansas City
Getting there: The Wizards needed a 2-0 win against Dallas on the final weekend of regular season play to access the postseason. From there, a sweet free kick from Davy Arnaud was enough for a 1-0 win against Chivas USA at Arrowhead Stadium in the first leg of the conference semifinals. Onalfo's men were outshot 16-8 in the return leg at The Home Depot Center, but held on to prevail with a scoreless draw and a one-goal edge on aggregate goals.
Key stat: After allowing 45 goals this year (1.5 a game) the Wizards back line stiffened at the right time and has posted three consecutive shutouts. Guided by steely center backs Nick Garcia and Conrad, Kansas City conceded no goals in two meetings with Chivas USA to begin the playoffs. How much was Kansas City's doing, and how much was owed to Chivas USA's beat-up offense? We'll soon see.
Man of the moment: Unheralded right-sided attacker Davy Arnaud decided the last series with one of his free kicks. Could he do it again? He struck for four goals and nine assists during the season and has 25 and 25 for his career.
X-factor: Kansas City isn't without big-game experience. Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman has appeared in four MLS Cup Finals. Kerry Zavagnin, Nick Garcia, Sasha Victorine and Jimmy Conrad have all appeared in two apiece. So none are likely to be undone by jitters or a hostile scene.
Must be on his game: Kansas City holding midfielder Kerry Zavagnin will have to closely track Houston danger man Dwayne De Rosario, who has a habit of floating innocently in the midfield but then springing into dangerous spot with late bursts.
How they could win: Eddie Johnson has been kept off the scoresheet lately. But Houston manager Dominic Kinnear says it's foolish to consider Johnson, the MLS Comeback Player of the Year winner and a 15-goal scorer in 2007, anything but a game-breaker capable of exploiting any chance around the penalty area.
Playoff checklist: Houston
Getting there: Houston fell 1-0 in the first leg to Dallas due to an uncharacteristic defensive boo-boo. A ball was allowed to bounce inside the penalty area, and suddenly Houston was up against it. Things got worse in the return leg as the Orange fell behind (which meant a 2-0 deficit on aggregate.) But Houston pounced after Dallas had a man sent off, and Joseph Ngwenya enlivened the offense with his 61st-minute introduction. Houston led 2-1 after 90 minutes. In the 30-minute extra time Brian Ching scored his second goal and Ngwenya added his second assist as Houston prevailed by a 4-1 final.
Key stat: Houston pounded Dallas with 24 shots (over 120 minutes) in last week's second leg. Kinnear replaced Ngwenya in the starting lineup with the taller, more physical Nate Jaqua, expecting to aggressively his side to swing a lot of balls into the penalty area. Expect Dynamo to be similarly dependent Saturday on service from Brian Mullan and Brad Davis.
Man of the moment: Brian Ching scored seven goals in the regular season, but all of them were earned by Aug. 19. He slumped a bit over the last two months and wasn't always in the starting lineup. So it must have been heartening for Dynamo fans to see Ching strike for two in the 4-1 win against Dallas.
X-factor: Four important Houston players carry yellow cards into the match: De Rosario, Pat Onstad, Eddie Robinson and Richard Mulrooney. Should any of them collect one Saturday they would miss the MLS Cup Final. Ricardo Clark (who is suspended for the duration of 2007) missed last year's final after collecting cards in consecutive playoff matches last year.
Must be on his game: Houston center back Eddie Robinson (along with fellow central defender Ryan Cochrane) has a big assignment in corralling fleet strikers Eddie Johnson and Scott Sealy. Houston's center backs will look to confine the K.C. strikers in small areas and generally limit their space in the attacking third.
How they could win: Kansas City allowed seven goals on corner kicks this year. Houston may be the best in MLS at exploiting set-piece opportunities. Players run screens for Ching, Jaqua and Robinson, who cause havoc by getting on the end of deliveries from Mulrooney or Davis.
Steve Davis is a freelance writer who has covered Major League Soccer since its inception. Steve can be reached at BigTexSoccer@yahoo.com. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
