making his Galaxy debut after his trade from the Colorado Rapids in the offseason -- both came up with some quality saves.
• Dynamo played a man down for the final 14 minutes after Ryan Cochrane was sent off with a straight red card after pulling down substitute Robbie Findley from behind as ran toward goal.
• On Sept. 16 at The Home Depot Center, Dynamo snapped a 1-1 tie with two second-half goals for a 3-1 win. The teams traded goals from corner kicks midway through the first half. Richard Mulrooney swung one in from the left that was nodded on on its way through the mixer, and Ryan Cochrane slipped it at the back post to knock it first-time into the roof of the goal (21). But five minutes later the Galaxy pulled level when Alan Gordon shook his marker and snapped home Landon Donovan's service with a free header.
• Barely seconds into the second half, Dynamo regained the lead. From the kickoff, the ball went into the right corner, and Brian Mullan nicked it away from Mike Randolph before slipping into the area. Mullan was pulled down by the young Galaxy fullback, and Dwayne De Rosario duly converted the resulting penalty kick.
• Dynamo finished off the win in the 73rd minute by punishing another mistake. Ricardo Clark and De Rosario tried to play a neat one-two at the top of the Galaxy area, and as the ball slipped behind the two Galaxy defenders, both held up, allowing Clark to sneak behind them and slap home a low shot.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-3-1-2): Joe Cannon - Chris Klein, Ty Harden, Troy Roberts, Mike Randolph - Cobi Jones, Peter Vagenas (Carlos Pavon 79), Kyle Martino - Landon Donovan - Gavin Glinton (Kelly Gray 64), Alan Gordon (Edson Buddle 69). Substitutes Not Used: Steve Cronin, Quavas Kirk, Israel Sesay, Josh Tudela
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Richard Mulrooney, Ryan Cochrane (Craig Waibel 91+), Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett - Brian Mullan (Patrick Ianni 48), Ricardo Clark, Corey Ashe - Dwayne De Rosario - Nate Jaqua, Joseph Ngwenya (Brian Ching 42). Substitutes Not Used: Mike Chabala, Paul Dalglish, Zach Wells, Chris Wondolowski
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Houston Dynamo returned to action after a week off and got their stretch drive off to a terrific start, rolling to a comprehensive 3-0 victory against FC Dallas on Sunday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park. Dynamo pulled back into a tie for the lead in the Western Conference with Chivas USA with 48 points each, with Dynamo sitting in the top spot holding the tiebreakers, but Chivas with a game in hand.
LAST MATCH
• Houston Dynamo were returning to action after a weekend off, with wins in their last two games, while FC Dallas had lost four games in their last six down the stretch.
• The visitors had control of the match from the outset, and took the lead in first-half stoppage time. Dwayne De Rosario was able to latch onto a through ball that bounced off an FCD defender, and after dribbling into the area he rolled home an angled shot inside the far post.
• Dynamo doubled their lead in the 62nd minute. Richard Mulrooney flighted in a corner kick from the right and it flew all the way to beyond the back post, where Eddie Robinson came in to turn the ball home.
• Houston completed the rout and finished off the club's first victory in Frisco in the 84th minute. Brian Ching was able to wriggle free on the right and cut back into the center, before rolling a pass into Stuart Holden's path, and he calmly slotted home.
• Each team ended the game a man down, after FC Dallas striker Carlos Ruiz and Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark were sent off when they were involved in a melee a minute from the end.
• Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made one change to the team that defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 on Sept. 16. Brian Mullan was held out with injury, so Brian Ching came back into the attack, with Nate Jaqua moving to a wide midfield role.
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Richard Mulrooney, Ryan Cochrane, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett - Nate Jaqua, Ricardo Clark, Corey Ashe (Stuart Holden 68) - Dwayne De Rosario - Joseph Ngwenya (Craig Waibel 85), Brian Ching (Chris Wondolowski 87). Substitutes Not Used: Paul Dalglish, Brad Davis, Patrick Ianni, Zach Wells
• "There could have been some calls go our way that one way or another, maybe changed the outcome of the day. I thought in the second half, we were disciplined defensively and were good breaking out," Kinnear said. "As the game went on, we knew they were going to throw more guys forward and that can make it tough for the defense. So, you need to make sure that when you do win the ball, you try and get it up the field as quickly as possible and leave those guys behind. Defensively, we were pretty solid and we took our chances."
TEAM NEWS
• It was the first ever win for Dynamo at Pizza Hut Park against FC Dallas, and their third victory in four league meetings this season, with the fourth encounter a draw.
• "Winning 3-0 in Dallas is not easy and we accomplished a great victory tonight," De Rosario said. "This is all preparation for the playoffs. Anytime you get a chance to win 3-0 away from home, it makes a statement throughout the league." Said Kinnear: "I don't think we have mastery over any team in this league, to be honest. They gave us some problems today."
• Even coming off a two-week layoff, Kinnear knew his charges would be ready. "I think the practices leading up to this game were very good," he said. "We had Thursday off and I didn't want to stop training because I thought the guys were working so hard and playing so well. I think the way we played, especially in the second half, we did well. I'm not surprised by it."
• Said De Rosario: "To be fair, we needed the break. A lot of us played in Gold Cup, SuperLiga, Open Cup and never really got a break. I think it was well-deserved. We really worked hard during that break. It really wasn't a break because we had some tough sessions, which were focused on preparing for Dallas and the playoffs. We still have a few games left but wanted to come in here and get a great result. The way we fought here as a team was great and really made a statement."
• The win left Dynamo tied for the top spot in the Western Conference with Chivas USA, and if the season were to begin this weekend, Houston would hold the tiebreaker and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. But, Chivas USA have a game in hand - and the teams face each other in the season finale, Oct. 20 at The Home Depot Center.
• "I think it was good for us," Eddie Robinson said. "We know that Chivas has a game in hand over us at the top of the table. We were three points down coming in and now we're tied with them. We have played well against them this year and have beaten them twice this year. We go there for our final game of the season."
• The win also kept Dynamo in the hunt for the Supporters' Shield. They are five points in back of D.C. United with three games to play, with a trip to Real Salt Lake next weekend before the season-ender in Carson.
• "We want to get first place because we want home field throughout the playoffs," Robinson said. "We know what we have to do and coming here and winning today was at the top of the list. For us, we look back and are happy that we got three points and are looking forward to a nice short trip home."
• Wade Barrett made his 200th league appearance in the victory, becoming the 42nd player in MLS annals to reach the double-century mark. "I'm sorry it took me until I was 31 to get there, and I really wish I had gotten there a season or two before, but longevity is tough to achieve sometimes," said Barrett. "There is always constant competition for spots and injuries (Barrett played in only three games in the 2000 season due to groin surgeries). I'm happy to be in the group of those who have made it this far."
• On Thursday, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced that Ricardo Clark is suspended for nine games and fined $10,000 for the incident between he and FC Dallas striker Carlos Ruiz, when both were sent off in the 89th minute last weekend. Clark will miss Dynamo's final three games of the 2007 regular season, the entirety of the MLS Cup Playoffs, and whatever games remain of the suspension from the start of the 2008 season.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
The Los Angeles Galaxy continued their rise into playoff contention, winning for the second time in four days on the road, overcoming an early goal for a 2-1 victory against the Columbus Crew on Sunday afternoon at Crew Stadium. The Galaxy now have 27 points with four matches still to play, sitting six points outside the top eight in 11th place overall.
LAST MATCH
• The Galaxy had won back-to-back games for the first time all season after their midweek win, while the Crew were coming off a victory against Toronto that put an end to a seven-game winless run.
• The home side got off to a dream start before the largest crowd of the season at Crew Stadium. Andy Herron took a pass in the right corner, worked his way and drove in a cross that Alejandro Moreno stuck his head in to nod home for his sixth goal on the campaign.
• But the Galaxy stormed back with two goals in a four-minute span. A freekick was lofted into the area, and after bouncing around a bit, Frankie Hejduk's attempted clearance bounced off Troy Roberts and past Will Hesmer, just rolling over the line before the Crew 'keeper could stop it. It was the first professional goal for the young Galaxy defender (13).
• Then in the 16th minute, Kyle Martino picked off an attempted pass out of the area by Hejduk, cutting back across the top of the box before ramming home a low shot.
• The Galaxy withstood a real Crew flurry, especially over the final minutes, Cobi Jones heading a ball out of the goalmouth on a corner and Columbus striker Kei Kamara rattling the face of the crossbar.
• Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop kept his team the same as the one that defeated the Kansas City Wizards 1-0 on MLS Primetime Thursday.
• Here's Yallop's team (4-4-1-1): Joe Cannon - Chris Klein, Ty Harden, Troy Roberts, Mike Randolph - Cobi Jones (Ante Jazic 88), Josh Tudela, Peter Vagenas, Kyle Martino (Kevin Harmse 71) - Landon Donovan - Alan Gordon (Gavin Glinton 19). Substitutes Not Used: Edson Buddle, Steve Cronin, Quavas Kirk, Carlos Pavon
• "In this time of the year and this state that we are in, it's a fantastic result to come in and beat Columbus, who are fighting for their lives to get a little further up the table," Yallop said. "For us to come in and win this game is amazing. I thought that we played great. We deserved to win. It wasn't a fluke."
TEAM NEWS
• And so, riding a three-game winning streak - their longest of the season -, the Galaxy are still well alive in their bid for a return to the MLS Cup Playoffs, which the club missed out upon last year for the first time ever. The Galaxy have a game in hand over all of their challengers for the eighth spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Six points behind the Chicago Fire, who currently hold that place, the two teams meet at The Home Depot Center in the regular season finale.
• "The way we see it every game is a playoff game for us from here on out, so that is how we are treating it, We needed this, and guys are stepping up and battling. We're doing whatever it takes to get three points at this point," said Troy Roberts. "Luckily, we have a week to rest and hopefully get somewhat of our legs back underneath us. This is what we needed to do, and we did it."
• The schedule has not been terribly kind to the Galaxy over the last half of the season, and the Crew game was once again the back end of a Thursday-Sunday doubleheader, with both games on the road. But the Galaxy won both, this time around, beginning the trip with a 1-0 win against the Kansas City Wizards.
• "I wasn't panicking. I have belief in the guys who started. They have belief in themselves, and we don't worry about anything now," Yallop said. "So, looking forward to our next game against Houston, which is a tough game, obviously, but we are looking forward to it. We are real proud of the guys with the way that they worked and fought and scrapped - we have a great chance still."
• After a long string of so-so defensive outings, the Galaxy have allowed just two goals over the last three games. It has also come as Yallop has kept the same back four of Mike Randolph and Chris Klein at fullback and Ty Harden and Troy Roberts in central defense.
• "Those two guys (Harden and Roberts), the last three or so games, have been outstanding. I think that once teams start to play together, no matter who they are, no matter who is in the lineup, if you play together for a while, if you don't keep chopping and changing -- I feel like I can coach guys to do all right once we get guys that are together and can work together for a bit," Yallop said. "We've chopped and changed the lineup all season because of injuries, but now that we have a bit of a settled side, it is nice."
• Roberts managed to get the final touch to a free kick that bounced around the area in the 13th minute to score his first professional goal, then Martino took advantage of a giveaway and scored in the 16th, and the Galaxy held out from there in Columbus.
• "We've talked about mentality, and about winning, and about what it takes to win, and we are doing all the right things right now," said Yallop. "We're laying our bodies on the line, and getting back into great positions to defend, and when we get back there we're making great decisions and being tough and strong and brave."
• "It's been a game of inches for us all year long and none of the inches have gone our way so far," said Kyle Martino. "To see Troy [Roberts] battle for kind of a hopeless ball, and to get his toe to it and score the kind of goal that we have seen scored on us all year long, kind of pumped us up and made us realize that things were going our way and we just needed to keep pushing, and we didn't let down."
• These two weeks are a rarity for the Galaxy - two complete weeks with only the match at the weekend. Next Saturday, they play host to Toronto FC, before finishing the season with a final Thursday-Sunday, home to New York then at Chicago. The Galaxy still control their own destiny to make the final match meaningful.
• "It is good to come home and beat your former team, and to do it when it counts, do it when we desperately need three points. I'm just really proud of all my guys today. It was a battle 'til the end, and everyone is tired," said Martino. Everyone is nicked up. Everyone has strains. Everyone has injuries. But everyone is battling and working together to do whatever it takes to get three points, so I'm proud of everyone."
