Dynamo must employ all-around effort
Houston trying to return to MLS Cup for third time in four seasons
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"We know we have another game on Thursday," said Holden. "But right now we are going to enjoy this game, we are going to soak it up."
Holden said that long before the Galaxy beat Chivas USA later Sunday night on a penalty kick by Landon Donovan. And even though he had the day of the week wrong (the Dynamo will play at The Home Depot Center on Friday night), the only team the Dynamo could play that early would be the Donovan and David Beckham-led Galaxy.
Had Chivas won the match, the Dynamo would have played host to the West final at Robertson Stadium. But the Orange did not get the upset they wanted, so they will travel to Carson, Calif. in what will be their first-ever conference final away from home.
Holden was part of a great Houston midfield Sunday that kept Sounders FC away from the goal until deep into the second half. Dominic Oduro used his lightning fast speed to create several chances, while Holden and the defense did their part until Brian Ching stunned Seattle with a one-timer in the 96th minute.
It was an all-around effort that the Dynamo say they will have to employ later this week if they want to return to the MLS Cup Final for the third time in four years.
"We are going to fight for each other no matter the circumstances," said Holden. "Whether we are the underdogs or the favored team, it doesn't matter. We go into every game knowing what we have to do and that starts now in preparation for (Los Angeles).
"We know that if we play our game, if we pressure tight, and keep doing the things that we do well, no other team should be able to hang with us."
The Dynamo smothered Seattle in the first half and had they been graced with any luck at all, they could have had a 2-0 lead at the break. Oduro was all over the field, wowing everyone in the stands and in the press box.
Another game like that from Oduro, who will likely get the call alongside Ching on Friday, and the Dynamo could be sitting pretty against the Galaxy, who are a win away from their first trip to MLS Cup since beating the New England Revolution in 2005.
Oduro is very happy to be a part of a team that has enjoyed much success for much of the last decade. Since 2001, players and coaches linked to both the first incarnation of the San Jose Earthquakes and the Dynamo, have been to the MLS championship game five times in eight seasons.
"We have an amazing team," said Oduro. "The guys around here are just amazing. They all work for each other and you can't do anything other than give 110 percent every time you step on the field. I love this team, I love being here and I think we can make it all the way."
Dymamo head coach Dominic Kinnear, who was San Jose's assistant coach in 2001, said Oduro "had a great first half" against Seattle.
"We were just unlucky enough not to get a goal or two," said Kinnear.
But defensively is where the Dynamo should be able to separate themselves from any of the other teams still vying for the championship. And because they are good responsible from Ching down to goalkeeper Pat Onstad, they have just as good a chance as anyone to win the whole thing.
"I think the guys up front made it easy (for our defenders), and so did the guys in the midfield," said Kinnear. "Pat made a couple of really great saves, and came out well to catch some balls, and that really took some of the pressure off us.
"I thought the work that Ricardo (Clark) and the guys in the midfield did was excellent, but it starts up top. I think that Brian and Dom were just a handful on both sides of the ball. They just didn't have too many clear-cut chances."
Kinnear can only hope he can say the same thing after Friday's match.
Andrew J. Ferraro is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
