Fantastic Finish

Down 2-1 with three-quarters of the series gone by, Dynamo Houston were outplaying a physical and often gamesman Chivas USA...but had nothing to show for it. Into the 2nd half, another cheap shot -- this time in the penalty box against DeRo who was sighting up for a header -- resulted in a PK for Dynamo. I wonder if DeRo was feeling like he was in a slump based on his recent penalty result (saved in the first leg by Chivas' GK, Brad Guzan), because leftie Brad Davis took the kick and leveled the series.

But -- wow -- with the game at 1 minute and 40 seconds into the 2-minute stoppage time, Serioux passes the ball around the midfield to Davis, who goes wide to DeRo, who dribbles into the box, sends a beautiful, arcing cross to the far post where defender (defender!) Eddie Robinson heads the ball down hard. The ball takes a high bounce and (1:57 into the 2:00 stoppage) Ching ignores a body-slamming Regan and drills the ball into the net with his head.

Game, set, match. Dynamo caps off a terrific inaugural season in dramatic fashion. Now they get to host the Rapids next weekend for the Western Conference Championship. We'll be there.

I wonder, in retrospect, if Dynamo weren't better off going into the second leg down a goal. That position was the catalyst for Chivas to play against their own strengths, to ignore what got them to the playoffs in the first place, and shelve their attacking style of soccer for a negative, bunkered strategy. That isn't their style, and playing out of character took its toll. They had only one true challenge on our goal (and that was in the first minute of the game), had a frustrated player sent off in the second half, and seemed to be on borrowed time as Dynamo moved the ball at will and peppered Guzan. If Dynamo had been level or ahead in the differential, the roles may have been reversed and Chivas might have earned a trip to the Conference finals.

Excellent strategy, DeRo, missing that PK and forcing Chivas to play a losing game. You are strong with the Force.

Down 2-1 at Halftime

Dynamo went to the Home Depot Center, outshot Chivas 15-9 (with 5 on frame), were awarded a penalty kick with 5 minutes left in the game, and left town on the rotten end of 2-1. Chivas got both their goals off free kicks, and had only one other shot on goal besides those two free kicks.

With Guzan in goal, in is unbelievable that we couldn't score more on those 15 shots. It's even more unbelievable that Guzan beat DeRo on the PK too, which would have leveled the score.

All is not lost for the Dynamo, of course; but their work is cut out for them given their inability to translate their skill and their ball-possession into winning results. We need to make the most of our chances next weekend, and we need to remain solid on defense, particularly on deadball situations. We cannot tie the next game -- which will be, thankfully, at Robertson -- or our season is over. We must win by two to go to the Western Conference Champions and most likely face the Fakin' Cheatin' Divers.

On another note: I thought Charlie Pallilo did an admirable job calling the game on the radio, particularly for someone who knows sports but not soccer. He certainly understands soccer as a contest, and can read the flow of the game; but he does not understand some of the subtleties of the tactics and strategies, and he knows very little about the backstory and history of soccer that he can use to color his commentary. That's the first time I've listened to soccer on the radio (the only other broadcasts down here being in Spanish). It translated pretty well to the pictureless medium of radio...although I had to keep the TV on just to catch the big plays. Interesting that the radio runs about, oh, eight seconds faster than the TV.

Burgers & Celebs

So, I'm at Christian's Tailgate Bar & Grill today for lunch (formerly called Christian's Totem), eating a half pound of delicious mad cow, when a trio that includes Craig Roberts and Oliver Luck come in and pound down some burgers of their own.

Roberts used to be THE sports guy on the local network scene, calling it for the local NBC affiliate, KPRC TV-2. Don't know what he's doing know, other than reading the sports on the local rock station, 103.7, and hosting a show call "Sports Off Center" on Channel 55. (The show has a website with a dead link, but here's a small screen shot of the site by the designer.)

I wonder if there's a Dynamo connection between Roberts and Luck, or if Roberts is just hanging around a former Oilers QB, unaware that Luck has anything to do with a "forner's" sport like soccer.

More dang draws

On 10/07, Dynamo go to Salt Lake and see Dalglish get his first goal of the season, but Dynamo couldn't hold onto the lead, and end up tying RSL (who doesn't make the post-season) 1-1.

On 10/14, Dynamo hosts Colorado and the goals are piled up...unfortunately in equal amounts for both teams. Dynamo starts off strong, with Waibel scoring off a corner in the 2nd minute. Colorado ties it up in the 21st minute. Dalglish scores his second goal in as many games just before halftime. Colorado ties it up 10 minutes into the second half. Waibel -- on fire -- scores a late goal that should be the winner, but we let in the equalizer with two minutes left in regulation. Yes, the win wouldn't have mattered. Yes, we were resting many starters. But also: Yes, we have established a pattern of getting by with ties, of not being able to defend our leads or to completely run away with the game. Dynamo have dominated too many games that ended in draws (and a couple, losses). 11 wins and 13 ties...plus the 8 losses. That's not a particularly impressive record for such a dynamic team.

Hopefully this pattern is not revisited during the MLS Cup tourney, which begins next weekend vs. Chivas.

Ching-mac-bling-bling!

So there we are, in Section 117, with great sightlines to the north end goal. A good crowd is in attendance. There's the fabled Freddy Adu. There's Jaime Moreno. There's four minutes to go and another strong performance by the Dynamo looks destined for another tie.

Then Davis drives the ball down the far left wing. He crosses it. Dalglish (I learn later) pops the ball up with his head. Ching shifts out towards the edge of the penalty box to collect the ball. Only problem: he's facing the wrong way to head it in, or to strike it cleanly unless -- "Hohree Cow!" -- he ascends into the air and with phenomenal power, drives the ball 17 yards into the far net. He puts the Dynamo up 1-0. He wins the game. He puts the Dynamo into the MLS Cup.

In his excitment, he kicks one of the advertisment plackards and the metal frame pops off, but no one cares. They've seen, first hand, one of the rarest, most audacious goals in the MLS.

Question: who to vote for for Goal of the Year? DeRo had a goal from the halfway line last month. That's rarely ever seen. Ching had a bicycle -- which is rare, but not unheard of -- but one of such power and distance, and with post-season implications, that it just might put it over the top. It'd be nice for DeRo to have the GotY for three years in a row...but it'd be nice for Ching to get his name in lights as well...

Oh the decisions we fans have to face!