Houston Closes Season With Win Over Chivas USA

CARSON, Calif. --The Houston Dynamo hit the playoffs on the right note, winning away 3-2 versus Chivas USA to seal up the second spot in the West and take home field advantage for the opening round of the postseason. They will face the Seattle Sounders.

Chivas USA, however, were left with the consolation prize of knowing their visiting match will be against stadium rivals LA Galaxy, so they will not have to travel at all for the start of the playoffs.

First Half

Chivas USA looked energetic in the early going of the game, but lacked the needed precision to finish chances.

Justin Braun got a look at goal in the fifth minute on a breakaway, but Pat Onstad, the experienced goalkeeper who is the oldest player in Major League Soccer, dove to push the low shot just wide.

The pace of the game was frantic, despite the noontime California heat. Sacha Kljestan was orchestrating much of the Chivas USA attack, while that of Houston was sputtering. Luis Angel Landin looked especially hot and frustrated up front for Houston, as he was caught offside time and again or misread where teammates were going to put passes. Houston clearly missed Brian Ching, who did not travel to the game because he was serving a red card suspension.

Onstad again saved the Dynamo from falling behind when Maicon Santos put a shot on goal in the 22nd.

That save would prove crucial on the other end as Houston used a set play oportunity four minutes later to score the opening goal. A Brad Davis corner kick was flicked on to the front of the goal, where Andrew Hainault, the big Canadian defender, bonked the ball into the goal past Zach Thorton for the opening goal.

Yet Houston proved that they were also adept on the speedy counterattack. With Chivas USA perhaps still stunned at going behind in front of their partisan fans, Davis again played provider on a breakaway, sending a long pass to a speeding Domonic Oduro, who outraced his defender and Thornton to the ball to touch into the far post for the second goal.

As Chivas USA fought to get back in the game, things got a big chippy, with players pushing and fouling frequently. Landin went down under a hard foul lat in the half and was replaced by Abe Thompson.

Despite the best efforts of Chivas USA, Houston hung on to their lead until the break.

Second Half

Houston actually managed to add to their advantage through the fresh legs of Abe Thompson in the early going of the second half. He scored in the 52nd minute, as the game looked like it was going to be a rout.

But Chivas USA had other ideas and the substitutions made by coach Preki were starting to bear fruit. With Marcelo Saragosa on the pitch, countryman Paulo Nagamura broke forward more and fed Michael Lahoud for a goal in the 59th minute.

Houston didn't panic, but Chivas USA kept the pressure on, even as time grew short. Houston was able to deny most chances, but with less than five minutes left, Chivas USA pulled another goal back. Another substitute, Jorge Flores broke into the box and was brought down by a crowd of Houston defenders closing in on him.

Eduardo Lillingston put away the penalty kick with authority.

The final minutes of the game became a nervy battle of wills as Chivas USA fought for the equalizer. Braun had a shout at another penalty call in injury time, but referee Mark Geiger swallowed his whistle.

After a last corner kick chance, where Lillingstong collided with Onstad and was given a yellow, the final whistle ended matters. Houston celebrated their victory, while Chivas USA took heart at their comeback momentum.

Andrea Canales, Goal.com

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