Dynamo's season ends with upset

Houston falls to New York 3-0, drops series 4-1 on aggregate

By Andrew J. Ferraro / MLSnet.com Staff

Wade Barrett and the Dynamo could not stop Dane Richards and the Red Bulls attack on Sunday. (Trotman/Getty)

HOUSTON -- The Houston Dynamo are MLS champions no more.

With all the stats, history and just about every possible advantage seemingly on their side, the Dynamo simply could not keep up with the New York Red Bulls Sunday afternoon at Robertson Stadium.

Dane Richards and Juan Pablo Angel scored first-half goals and John Wolyniec added his first score of the season in the second as the Red Bulls became the first team ever to eliminate Houston from the playoffs in a 3-0 victory.

Houston had chance after chance after chance to dent the confidence of New York 'keeper Danny Cepero, but there was no magic left for the team which, until Sunday, was a perfect 4-0 at home during the playoffs.

The Red Bulls won the Western Conference Semifinal Series 4-1 on aggregate and will visit Real Salt Lake next weekend for the chance to play in the MLS Cup Final against either Columbus or Chicago.

Until Sunday, the Dynamo had outscored their opponents 11-2 at home during the playoffs, and until Sunday, Houston had not allowed more than one goal in any of their previous eight playoff matches.

Until Sunday, the Red Bulls had not won a road playoff match since Sept. 20, 2000, a span of eight games. New York was 0-6-3 during that time and faced quite the battle against a Dynamo team that seemingly always finds a way to overcome the impossible.

Their goal was to win an unprecedented third consecutive MLS title. Now the Dynamo have only the CONCACAF Champions League to look forward to. Most teams pack up and go home after elimination, but the Dynamo will have to continue to train for CD Luis Angel Firpo, who they will play host to Wednesday, Nov. 26 at Robertson Stadium in the final game of group play.

Captain Wade Barrett was beaten by Richards to a nice pass from Sinisa Ubiparipovic in the 25th minute. Richards flew through the Houston defense, drew Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad out of the net and ripped a shot just under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.

Eleven minutes later, the turning point in the match presented itself when the ever-reliable Ricardo Clark was called for a handball in the area. Even though his teammates argued in his favor, Clark cursed at the sky and did not argue with referee Baldomero Toledo.

Angel converted the penalty kick for his second goal of the playoffs, and the Red Bulls were well on their way to their first road playoff win since the turn of the century.

Houston had several chances to get on the scoreboard first before the Richards goal, but Cepero, arguably the man of the match, had good positioning to keep the Orange off the board.

Barrett, who was pulled in favor of Corey Ashe to start the second half, missed a shot in the seventh minute after he headed a pass to himself around the New York defense. Cepero came out to play the angle, and the move paid off as Barrett's shot bounced wide of the near post.

In the 53rd minute, Brian Ching went one-on-one with Cepero, but fired a shot that was easily turned away by the New York 'keeper.

Five minutes later, Brad Davis, who appeared to injure his knee in the first half, fired a free kick toward the New York net that was deflected just wide by Clark, looking for redemption from his error in the first half.

Cepero was at his best in the 59th minute when Ching had two chances to score off a corner kick. On the first try, he used his hand to knock away what appeared to be a well-placed header. The Red Bulls could not clear, and Ching got another chance, only to be denied again.

After coming off the bench, super sub Stuart Holden nearly got the Dynamo on the board with several good looks. In the 68th minute, he just missed the left post after beating the defense to the ball from about 25 yards out.

Then, in the 78th minute, his bending kick from 30 yards out was knocked just high enough by Cepero, who finished with five saves in easily the best match of his life.

Andrew J. Ferraro is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.