and heated protestations -- Prus waved play on.
Here's Bradley's team (4-4-2): Preston Burpo - Tim Regan, Jason Hernandez, Claudio Suarez, Orlando Perez - Brent Whitfield (Esteban Arias 81), Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan, Jonathan Bornstein - Jesus Morales (Matt Taylor 71), Ante Razov. [Substitutes Not Used: Rene Corona, Brad Guzan, Drew Helm, Carlos Llamosa]
Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Kelly Gray (Stuart Holden 82), Ryan Cochrane (Kevin Goldthwaite 77), Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett - Chris Wondolowski (Adrian Serioux 36), Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis - Dwayne De Rosario - Brian Mullan, Alejandro Moreno. [Substitutes Not Used: Patrick Ianni, Marcus Storey, Craig Waibel, Zach Wells]
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Houston Dynamo return home for a league game for the first time in more than a month, concluding their five-game road swing with a 2-1 victory against the Los Angeles Galaxy last Sunday, their first win in the run after getting just one point from the first four games. Dynamo are still in second place in the Western Conference with 39 points from 27 matches, now leading the third-place tie between Chivas USA and Colorado Rapids by just a single point, while trailing FC Dallas still by seven points.
LAST MATCH
The Galaxy and Dynamo were meeting for the second time in four days, after the hosts claimed a 3-1 victory to send them to a second successive U.S. Open Cup Final, where they will face the Chicago Fire.
In the league match, the teams traded first-half goals in a four-minute burst. First Alan Gordon latched onto a clearance and raced toward the Dynamo area, before being turned back by Houston defender. But he was able to hook away and lay the ball back to an onrushing Landon Donovan, who had only to side-foot home for the 29th minute opener.
But Dynamo leveled the score in the 32nd minute. Brad Davis whipped in a corner from the right, and the ball sailed to the back post where Craig Waibel volleyed home from point-blank range.
The visitors then took the lead in the 56th minute. L.A. midfielder Peter Vagenas tackled the ball away from Davis, but De Rosario was quickest to it, racing in alone on goal, rounding Galaxy 'keeper Kevin Hartman then chipping the ball high over the retreating Ugo Ihemelu in the goalmouth.
Houston was forced to survive the final 24 minutes a man down after Brian Mullan received his marching orders for a second booking for a foul on Donovan, but they survived to restore an insurmountable advantage for second place in the West - at least for the time being.
Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made one change to the team that lost 1-0 to FC Dallas the Saturday before. Eddie Robinson was again suspended, so Ryan Cochrane returned to central defense in his place.
Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Craig Waibel, Ryan Cochrane, Adrian Serioux, Wade Barrett - Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis (Paul Dalglish 71) - Dwayne De Rosario - Chris Wondolowski (Brian Ching 31), Alejandro Moreno. [Substitutes Not Used: Chris Aloisi, Kevin Goldthwaite, Kelly Gray, Stuart Holden, Zach Wells]
"The red card really changed the way we approached things and we kind of dropped into a [defensive] shell. When the ball turned over, you saw nine guys running back, making sure there were no easy balls and easy gaps to play through," Kinnear said. "The challenges we made on the first and second balls were good."
TEAM NEWS
Before the match, Kinnear said the game was the most important of the season. It became tougher after falling behind, and even tougher after Mullan was sent off, but Dynamo came away with the victory after claiming just six of a possible 27 in the previous nine matches.
"Our defensive effort collectively was more determined (Sunday)," Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said. "There were more men out there." Said Brian Ching: "We told ourselves that we had to turn it around, be men and own up to it and play like a team. I thought we did that in the second half."
Even though L.A. got the better of Dynamo in the Open Cup semifinal, winning 3-1 just four days earlier, goalscorer De Rosario said the club showed grit by winning on Sunday.
"It just shows the character of the team, losing in the semifinals of a cup match and coming back out with a win," De Rosario said. "It was great character and shows that guys have a lot of heart on this team."
The match was physical as the two clubs combined for 26 fouls. It was to be expected, however, given the Galaxy's long-standing rivalry with the Dynamo's former self, the San Jose Earthquakes.
"It was a bit chippy. These games, they tend to get a little bit heated and cards start flying around," Kinnear said. "Guys are challenging and they're competitive."
The biggest factor Dynamo overcame since losing to the Galaxy on Wednesday was their collective effort. "Wednesday, it was like 'OK, things aren't going so good' but tonight was like 'You know what? This is what's happening. This is the situation.' We all kind of pulled together and we did OK," Kinnear said.
Much of that was how they deal with playing a man down for the final 24 minutes. "First and foremost, you can't take a play off, especially when they have the ball," Kinnear said. "Your focus has to be, 'What can I do to protect this lead? When I win the ball, can I be calm enough to play out of pressure?' "
The Galaxy then tried to quickly take advantage by putting on Quavas Kirk and Herculez Gomez. "We just pulled Alejandro (Moreno) to right midfield," Kinnear said. "He'll work his tail off. I also told Brian (Ching) to hold the middle. They threw everything at us but the guys were putting it all on the line. They were pressuring the ball."
CHIVAS USA
Chivas USA maintained their grip on a playoff spot and narrowed the gap in the Western Conference, getting an early goal for a 1-0 victory against FC Dallas on Wednesday at Pizza Hut Park. Chivas now have 38 points from 27 matches and are still tied for third place in the Western Conference with the Colorado Rapids, now just a point behind Houston Dynamo while now five points ahead of Real Salt Lake in the race for the final playoff spot.
LAST MATCH
FC Dallas came into the match needing just a victory to secure their place in the MLS Cup Playoffs and also narrow the gap on D.C. United for the MLS Supporters' Shield, while it was the vital game-in-hand for Chivas USA in their bid to secure a first-ever postseason berth.
The visitors took the lead after 13 minutes. Juan Pablo Garcia sent Jonathan Bornstein through and in alone on goal, but FCD 'keeper Dario Sala was quick off his line. As Bornstein turned away from Sala, Garcia continued running on from behind and took over the ball, sliding it into the unguarded goal.
Juan Francisco Palencia returned to the Chivas lineup for the first time in more than a month, but after suffering a knee sprain, was taken off in favor of Jesus Morales. But Morales was issued two yellow cards in the space of five minutes, sent off by referee Michael Kennedy after the second in the 76th minute.
But Chivas survived the final quarter-hour, FC Dallas nearly hitting for the leveller in the 89th minute when Carlos Ruiz met a Chris Gbandi cross with a powerful header, only for Brad Guzan to make a fine diving reaction save to his right.
Chivas USA head coach Bob Bradley made three changes to the team that played to a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas four days earlier in Carson. Carlos Llamosa came back into the back four, his first start since June 28, along with Orlando Perez, taking the place of Tim Regan and Sacha Kljestan as Jonathan Bornstein moved into a wide midfield role. In addition, Juan Francisco Palencia made his first start in six matches, coming into attack in place of Jesus Morales.
Here's Bradley's team (4-4-2): Brad Guzan - Tim Regan, Carlos Llamosa, Claudio Suarez, Orlando Perez - Juan Pablo Garcia (Sacha Kljestan 78), Jesse Marsch, Francisco Mendoza, Jonathan Bornstein (Jason Hernandez 90) - Juan Francisco Palencia (Jesus Morales 46), Ante Razov. [Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo, Johnny Garcia, Lawson Vaughn, Brent Whitfield]
"Honestly, we've fallen behind in too many games of late," Bradley said. "We wanted to try to get on top and find out again what it's like to play with a lead. We were able to accomplish that. From that point on, in some ways it wasn't our best game and Dallas put a lot into it. ... I thought the mentality of our team was good. Knowing how to win a game on the road when you're not playing your best is important. I think that was good for us."
TEAM NEWS
The Hoops outshot Chivas 15-7 but still won, which illustrates to Bradley how improved his team is from earlier in the season.
"We had a number of games early where we felt we played well but let ourselves down with mistakes and losses of concentration," Bradley said. "We've improved but have been frustrated at times because we tied games we could have won. I think we've learned from those things. Tonight was a very good team effort. This is our first shutout in a while and I think that's important. There were a lot of good things for us tonight."
Bradley also admitted the two-game series over four days, with Chivas USA starting at home and then traveling to Dallas, could resemble a semifinal series in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
"You do talk a little bit about how this is what it will be like in the playoffs," Bradley said. "Pending the result in the first match, how to follow it up, and what you need to do to advance in a two-game series. So I think that was good experience for us."
Chivas was dealt a blow just after halftime when starting forward and captain Juan Francisco Palencia was unable to return to the field to start the second half after suffering a right knee sprain. He was replaced by Jesus Morales. Palencia's status will be evaluated Thursday.
It was a huge start to the two-game Texas road trip for Chivas, who faced four of their final six games on the road, beginning with the Dallas match.
"It's a huge win for us on the road," Bornstein said. "We played them last week and tied 1-1. I thought we should have won that game also. Coming into their house and getting a 1-0 result is amazing for us. At this point in the season, we need to stay in the race for the playoffs and stay in that pack of teams that are fighting for second, third and fourth."
Brad Guzan returned to goal for the second match in a row, and the result was the first shutout for Chivas since July 15, a span of nine league games between clean sheets.
"Without a doubt, it's a big win in two ways," said defender Tim Regan. "It's on the road late in the season and it's 1-0. The games heading into the playoffs and in the playoffs are 1-0. At this time of year, you want to be prepared to win those (close games). Was it pretty, no? But it was a win."
