HOUSTON DYNAMO 1, D.C. UNITED 0
HOUSTON DYNAMO HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
On Brian Ching's goal:
"Yeah, you don't see that every week. [It was] fantastic by him. When the ball went wide he went straight to the box because he wanted to score. It's been a frustrating time for us, and I think that goal erases that frustration for a lot of people."
On the team's play:
"I thought we played well tonight. We didn't give them much. [D.C. is] a very high powered offensive team. I think most of the saves [Pat] made was nothing much. The defense held well. The only time we looked a little dangerous was when we carelessly gave the ball away."
On Alejandro Moreno's early exit:
"[He was] a little tired, and had a little bit of a sore back as well. You could tell that he was a little bit laboring. We came back at halftime, and it stiffened up on him so that was the reason for the change."
HOUSTON DYNAMO FORWARD BRIAN CHING
On keeping the momentum:
"We just keep doing what we're doing well. Play one or two touch, move the ball around, and defend as a team."
On his goal:
"Nothing was going through my mind. That's probably why I scored. The ball got crossed in from the side, Paul [Dalglish] had a good flick, and I just had to re-adjust. I didn't really have time to think; I just reacted."
On the atmosphere:
"We felt the energy from the crowd. Everybody was tired at the end of the game, and I think the crowd really helped us. We finished it off well.
HOUSTON DYNAMO MIDFIELDER DWAYNE DE ROSARIO
On the result:
"I think this was a very important game. It was like a playoff in itself. It was a great strategic game. I knew it would take a spectacular goal or even an own goal for a win. I'm glad we scored the spectacular goal. I'm glad that Brian [Ching] tried that bicycle kick."
On breaking Dynamo's winless streak:
"It's a huge win. If we win and Salt Lake loses we clinch the playoffs. Playing against a great team like D.C. United and getting the win against them is huge. Hopefully it will motivate us for the next two games we have."
D.C. UNITED COACH PETER NOWAK
On playing against Houston Dynamo:
"I think both games we played against them were pretty competitive and pretty open. Congratulations to them on the win."
On winning the Supporters' Shield:
"I think right now we are all happy because we won the Supporters' Shield. Right now that's what's most important for us, and we're going forward with a good mentality with one trophy behind us."
On the team's performance:
"I congratulate my team, and I think we played pretty smart today. We're looking forward to another two weeks and we're going to be ready for the playoffs."
On the team's defensive play at the end of the game:
"The pressure was very good from the top to the bottom. We still need to create more chances than we did tonight, but the defensive work was exceptional today. I don't know if we made a mistake or they got lucky, but that was a great shot by Brian Ching."
On his team's offensive play:
"We had chances like Houston did. We had a couple of chances with Freddy [Adu] and Matias [Donnet], a couple of shots from distance. Like I said, it was like a chess match, everybody was waiting for a chance to score. Houston was lucky to score the winning goal and they won the game, so congratulations to them. I wish Dominic continued his success with the team."
D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER TROY PERKINS
On Ching's goal:
"When [Dynamo forward Paul Dalglish] flicked it on, I think it caught our defenders by surprise. It didn't look like he was going to be able to get to it, and [D.C. United defender] Bobby [Boswell] was in position to get the ball if it did fall in there. [Dalglish] just flicked it on and got lucky. Good finish from Ching. They got a little lucky, I think."
On the scoring play:
"I don't think we pushed hard enough for a couple of minutes there, we just sat back a bit. We really didn't want to lose, and they didn't want to lose. So that's the way it ends, and at least we got the Supporters' Shield. It's unlucky that we didn't get it with a win, but we'll take it back home tonight."
On United's overall defensive effort before Ching's goal:
"The guys in the back did very well for us tonight, but like I said, unfortunately luck sometimes goes against you. Unluckily, Ching was sitting right there when [Dalglish] flicked it on. But we worked hard, but we have two games coming up that we need to win."
On his save on the point-blank shot:
"You could kind of see it develop. Ching was standing there with a defender on his back, and I knew he wasn't going to turn. As soon as he laid it off, I just stepped up into the hole and made myself big."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD FREDDY ADU
On the weather:
"It was hot. We've been training and the weather's been nice in D.C., but it was hot. We stuck it out. We gave it everything out there."
On Ching's goal:
"They scored off an incredible goal. What can you do about it? If he doesn't think about doing a bicycle kick, then the game ends in a tie. But he tried it, he scored and they won."
On the game:
"It was one of those games where you work, work, work, and then in the last minutes of the game they get a goal and you're just down. But we got the Supporters' Shield, so that's why you don't see guys putting their heads down right now. We're happy with what we've accomplished so far this season."
On the playoffs:
"We have two more home games before the playoffs start, and it's very important for us to win those games and go into the playoffs with a little bit of confidence and a winning streak. We want to go into the playoffs on fire and hitting on all cylinders, so it's very important for us to win these two games. Obviously, it's great that we got the Supporters' Shield, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't go all the way and win [the MLS Cup]. We've had such a great season that it would be a great, great disappointment if we didn't go all the way and win it, so that's what we've got to be focusing on."
On United's chance of winning the MLS Cup:
"We can win it and we want to win it. Last year we were disappointed, but this year we've got the pieces in place. It's just a matter of us going into the playoffs with everybody healthy and with everybody fresh and not tired, and mentally ready to go."
D.C. UNITED FORWARD JAIME MORENO
On winning the Supporters' Shield:
"It's definitely important. It would have been nicer if we didn't lose tonight, but this is an important step for us."
On the team's goal for the last two games of the season:
"We need to find our rhythm again, find our sharpness and get prepared for the playoffs. That's the most important thing in our heads right now."
