Defending Major League Soccer champions Houston Dynamo wrapped up a playoff spot with a 3-1 win against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday. Although the final goal is yet to come, Sunday's was an important step in reaching their target.
"You've hit the first goal from your first talk in preseason," Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said. "Our first goal is to make the playoffs as the season starts because we all know the end goal is to win MLS Cup. You can't get there unless you take that first step into the playoffs."
Ryan Cochrane, Dwayne De Rosario and Ricardo Clark scored for Dynamo, who passed Chivas USA for the top spot in the Western Conference after the day's action. Chivas USA tied Colorado 1-1 earlier Sunday.
Still, a playoff spot is just one of many goals Dynamo hope to realize. Dynamo skipper Wade Barrett listed the Supporters' Shield as well as home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as further accomplishments his club hopes to realize.
"We're for sure glad to get in the playoffs," he said. "That was our goal from the beginning of the season but we still have four games left so we'll just worry about the next game. That's the attitude of this team all the time, just try and get three points from the next game."
Houston will next play a league match on Sept. 30 at FC Dallas before finishing off the season with games against the Galaxy at home (Oct. 7), at Real Salt Lake (Oct. 13) and at Chivas USA (Oct. 21). Having so much time before the start of the playoffs can be dangerous, though, if the team is unprepared to handle it.
"It could be a double-edged sword," De Rosario said. "If we think because we're in the playoffs we can just relax during the rest of the season and pick it up for the rest of the playoffs, we're going to get a rude awakening."
In fact, De Rosario said the opposite should hold true. Dynamo should be continually trying to improve regardless of where they stand in the Western Conference table.
"We've just got to continue to build and get better and better and get a good rhythm going into the playoffs," De Rosario said. "This part of the season is the most important part of the season. Usually the teams that are clicking at this time of the year are teams that are most successful in the playoffs."
De Rosario assisted on the game's first goal when he sent a cross from the left flank to the far post, where Cochrane buried the shot. It was Cochrane's first goal of the season and just the second of his career.
But the Galaxy responded quickly. Landon Donovan sent a corner kick to the front of the goal and Alan Gordon buried the ball past Dynamo 'keeper Pat Onstad.
"We were a little disappointed that we let them back in the game," De Rosario said. "I thought the first half we were all over them."
In the second half, though, fate smiled on Houston. Galaxy defender Mike Randolph fouled Brian Mullan from behind at the edge of the penalty area. Referee Brian Hall pointed to the spot. Though contact between Randolph and Mullan appeared somewhat minimal, Barrett said he felt his club earned the call nonetheless.
"I don't look at it as a gift," Barrett said. "We try and attack all the time on our (kickoffs)."
De Rosario stepped up to take the kick. He said former San Jose teammate Joe Cannon might have known where De Rosario's tendencies on penalty kicks are, so he chose another route.
"Joe Cannon knows my spot, where I like to go," he said. "I played with him for many years so I decided to change it up on him and thankfully it worked."
De Rosario ripped a shot to Cannon's left as the Galaxy goalkeeper dived to his right. The tally seemed to take some of the fight from the Galaxy away.
"I do think from their end it's a bit disheartening to give up a goal like that," Barrett said. "It was obviously a big boost for us, to have come out quickly and gotten back on top and we've done a good job of playing on top in the past."
The call and ensuing goal boosted the visitors, Kinnear said.
"Both teams come in at halftime and it's fairly even. Then you come out and I guess the momentum does swing. It kind of went up our way and it probably took a little out of them mentally and then they have to open it up," he said. "As the game opened up, I thought we attacked a little bit better. Getting that second goal I wouldn't say was a killer blow but it definitely swung the game in our favor."
Brian Ching, who came on for an injured Joseph Ngwenya late in the first half, helped create the third goal. Ching took a pass from Clark some 25 yards out, and tried to slip a return through ball inside the penalty area. Galaxy rookie defender Ty Harden was in position to clear the ball but instead stopped. Clark latched onto the loose ball and buried his attempt.
Dynamo players and coaches credited their side for continuing to attack.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
