The Houston Dynamo put themselves in prime position to advance in the MLS Cup playoffs on Saturday, earning a 1-1 road tie against the New York Red Bulls in the first game of their Western Conference semifinal series.
After the physical first half remained scoreless, the Red Bulls opened up the game with a goal early in the second half. A quick throw-in found John Wolyniec in the left corner, and he sent a cross to the near corner of the six-yard box, where Juan Pablo Angel beat everybody to the ball and snapped a header past Pat Onstad.
The Dynamo could not find the equalizer until the 85th minute. Brian Ching held the ball up deep in the left corner and fed it back to captain Wade Barrett, who whipped in a cross toward the top of the six-yard box. Stuart Holden was able to leave the ball off for Kei Kamara, who stabbed it home for the crucial tying goal. It was Kamara's first career playoff goal in his first career playoff game.
Goalkeeper Pat Onstad made sure the Dynamo went home with the series score tied in the 89th minute when he dove to his left to stop a shot from New York's John Wolyniec.
The second leg will be played Sunday, November 9, at 2:00 p.m., at Robertson Stadium in Houston. The winner, in regulation, overtime, or penalty kicks, will advance to the Western Conference championship game. The Dynamo are 4-0 all-time in home playoff games, outscoring opponents 11-2.
The tie extended the Dynamo's unbeaten streak against MLS foes to 10 games (4-0-6), dating back to August 31. After beginning the year 3-5-5 in road contests in all competitions, Houston finishes the season with an eight-game unbeaten streak (1-0-7) on the road. The tie was Houston's 20th of the year in 46 overall games (18-8-20).
Stuart Holden and Kei Kamara were both second-half substitutes; each played the full match in Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League tie against Luis Angel Firpo in El Salvador. Kamara has now scored six goals in 17 total games (10 starts) for the Dynamo since being acquired in July. Holden has six assists in all competitions this year, fourth on the team behind Brad Davis, Brian Mullan, and Brian Ching.
Game 2: Houston vs. New York, Sunday, November 9, Robertson Stadium, 2 p.m.
