The Dynamo put in a great complete performance in defeating an excellent Seattle Sounders. Talk about a tough series!
Some random thoughts:
*A great collective effort won on a spectacular goal worthy of this occasion. Dominic Kinnear made all the right moves and the timing of his substitutions impeccable with all contributing.
* BRIAN CHING got untracked with a spectacular goal that will go down in Dynamo lore. The sweet side volley was set up courtesy of an effort from Brian Mullan that kept the play alive. The goal was blurry orb past Kasey Keller. Great timing for Ching to get a confidence building goal. More than that he had some great hold up play and never backed down against one of the league’s best defenders in Jhon Kennedy Hurtado.
*DOMINIC ODURO has become a huge x factor for this team based on his threat of getting behind defenses. Not only that but he now is DANGEROUS via the pass and the finish. This could be a real asset in LA on Friday at the Home Depot Center on a larger field against a team that could be exposed by his pace. His movement is also pulling defenders off Brian Ching and creating more space.
*HUGE MISTAKE..that dubious honor would go to Roger Levequese of Seattle who instead of heading the Mike Chabala cross towards the sideline doesn’t go with his head and allows Brian Mullan an opportunity to keep the play alive.
*TIMELY SAVES and SOLID BACK FOUR…Pat Onstad continues to make the plays he needs to and all credit to the Dynamo back four who were unbending for most of the evening.
Two centerbacks Bobby Boswell and Geoff Cameron were solid.
*The game was carried by the Dynamo possession wise and build up wise but Seattle was dangerous on the counter-attack. The Dynamo clearly made Freddy Ljunberg work extremely hard over these two games. It is also great they are finding their possession game because that need it against LA to keep Donovan and Beckham off the ball.
*DOMINIC KINNEAR… Kinnear’s substitution choices were outstanding and all contributed from the tight skills of Luis Landin, the energy of Cory Ashe and Cam Weaver.
*Fans were outstanding and I mean both Houston and the traveling Sounders fans!
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Congrats to the lads on a job well done. Props to the Seattle away support, it almost pains me to send them home unhappy. Almost.
Congrats also to you on the inaugural Orange Blazer. No one deserves it more.
The chicken wings were par excellence today.
Glenn,
I couldn’t agree more. I don’t think I’ve seen the team play this hungry in a long time. It seemed like everyone was firing on all cylinders:
-Oruro was a madman on the field, getting off several dangerous shots in the first half of the game. He also managed to chase down every loose ball that fell anywhere remotely near him. He seemed to have a slight limp after the game. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.
-Landin proved to be equally dangerous in the second half and had some great passes, which constantly caught SEA (and sometime even his own teammates) off guard.
-Cory was a great substitution and showed no lingering signs of his injury. He will be welcomed back into the playoff lineup.
-Onstead had several key saves that led to his most important shutout so far this season.
It was a great effort by all, with a great result. I’m looking forward to the game against LA on Friday. I’ll be cheering for the Orange from home.
PS – Glenn, congratulations on your well deserved induction into the inaugural Orange Blazer Club. Your dedication to the game and to Houston soccer is unwavering. Keep up the good work!
I was saddened when I saw the Sounders fans leave unhappy, but eh…we were unhappy last year AT HOME! Win some, lose some. Landin looked descent, Oduro should be a kicker for the Texans, Pato is a great keeper as always, our back line was great, and Dom did great. I’m kind of ticked by Gals win, but we’ll beat them at home and hopefully we can be at Qwest Field on November 22!
If we can put in a quality road performance against Seattle, we can do the same in LA. Landin will be our ‘Baby Blanco’!
Perfect game and atmosphere..
I do not agree with the timing of the substitutions. The last sub, weaver, should have been done during game play and burn off a couple of minutes. He made teh cahnge in the OT half time. You don’t do that. You play like argentina or italy and burn away as many minutes as you can by substituting ching when he is the farthest from the benches and during regular gameplay with the clock ticking. Other than that the game was perfect.
What a game!!! We had a great time AND we won!!! Our huge congrats to the hard working Dynamo and to the great fans! What support they gave!! The guys played like the winning form of the June winning streak. We CAN do it in LA and Seattle. Sure wish the games were HERE though. Can’t see why Seattle should have the game (especially on fake grass). Please don’t tell me about the fan base there as a reason….like there are no other fans in the MLS!
Not pretty but Dynamo got the deserved win. Seattle finishs superb debut season on weak note. Zakuani totally ineffective and subbed out, Ljunberg played worst game of season, credit some of it to Dynamo D.
Did not see Ljunberg switch point of attack once , continued to try and force ball into tightly marked players, plus his corner kicks and free kicks rarley got past first Dynamo defender.
Good luck to Dynamo in LA, your going to need it. Not only have to defeat Galaxy at HDC, but up against MLS front office and TV network that want to see glamour boy “Becks” go all way to and win MLS Cup
Hail the Oranje! It was a tough slog from Seattle to what has to be the worst pitch in MLS at this time of year (due to UH football) at the Rob but in the end, it was our playoff experience and veteran leadership that saw us through.
Great win aside though, the person who scheduled the MLS Western Conference Final on a Friday night at 9:00 p.m. (pacific time), AND 11:00 P.M. HOUSTON TIME, should be shot at first sunlight.
Are they trying to PREVENT people from watching the league semi-final or what? What irritates me even more is that LA and Beckham have been placed in prime time all year…UNTIL NOW? WTF?
Congratulations also on the Orange Blazer award Glenn. There can be no one more deserving in Houston.
Great win for the team…I knew they would come through. Also, for all those who were worried about the lack of tickets leading in…well I think the 27,500 speaks for itself.
I just looks to me that Landin just does not fit in with the team or the way the team plays. And he is just looks fat and slow.
The field looks bad, a new stadium would be nice right about now, but would their be a difference since TSU will be playing on it under the current stadium “agreement”.
Overall the team is undeniably great as always. They truely do embody swingers rule #76….”No excuses, play like a champion”.
great game, great atmosphere! loved how our supporter groups were loud and not a bad showing by the sounder supporters too, do they ALL have the SAME scarf? (pretty cool)lol
Congrats to our man GLEN DAVIS! its about time you get the recognition you deserve! so will you be wearing the orange blazer to the live recordings on Tues nights?
it was great to see our boys attack and pretty much dominate the game, and what a Gooolaazzzoo by Ching! wow! i think we all knew that to beat one of those keepers it would take something special!, and that’s what we got! I cant wait to see us bring down the galaxy on their OWN field! no matter if everyone wants to see Beckham and co. in the final, but they Have to get past our Dynamo! and i know we are the team to get it done! 3 CUPS! – doesn’t that sound great???
great game!
I was dissapinted on how bad the field looked for a playoffs game. I understand they were trying to soften it up, but come on U of H.
WHERE’S OUR STADIUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best game all year. Both teams let it all hang out on the pitch. Dynamo played better, in fact better than they have played all year (imo). Passing was better, ball was pushed forward all game, defense was smothering. Ching manned up. Landin proved to me he is going to be a force on this team. Oduro was awesome. Playing better and better with each game. Goal by Ching was world class, spanish broadcasters raved about it. It was nail biting down to the last whistle and I was exhausted. One negative was the field, it was awful. Hard as a rock. Dynamo deserve better. They deserve there own stadium. If they win the Cup this year, the City fathers cannot deny them. What more can they do? I like the buildup and play, just at the right time. The momentum is there and I suspect having 11 days off helped. Playing Friday nite will not be so bad. HDP has a great field with cool weather conditions, the Orange will run all day. Can’t wait for this game. I feel the Orange will take it all. Go Dynamo!
I am worried about the scheduling of the game. 10pm? 11 ET? It smells fishy. I think they are trying to referee beckham to the mls title. We know Dynamo has been persecuted all year long and having the game there with pretty boy beckham does not look good. Not because one team is better than the other, they are prety much even, but to me it means that the order from MLS is “no matter what, LA will win”. I sense corruption and bad officiating.
It was proved that Seattle cannot beat the dynamo 11 on 11. In the matches before it was 15 on 11 (with all 4 officials wearing green). without phantom goals or montero’s dives seattle couldn’t beat dynamo.
Congrats Glenn. That orange blazer looked pretty good on you. Well deserved. You’re a great dedicated soccer advocate.
Congrats to our Dynamo guys too on a terrific job. Yeah too bad next game is an away game. Being aired by ESPN makes it worse. I’m planning on turning of the sound and listen to the radio broadcast. Can’t stand listening to the two Beckham idolizing schoolgirls.
Does anybody know why Backham did not get red carded last night for arguing with the side line official after he was subbed out of the game. Surely he must have left the bench area. Remember Brad Davis’ red card for leaving the bench area. Double standards. Hollywood awe by the referee? I hope not.
Come on Ria, you know that in MLS, there are the rules that everyone else plays by and then the rules that Galaxy plays by. Typical. Becks could go all Elizabeth Lambert out there and he’d get a stern talking to and no more.
JC, I think you’re great, but dead wrong about sub timing. If Dom had done as you suggested, there would have been no Ching golazo. The sub timing was very effective and continued to disrupt Seattle.
Landin looked the best on the ball I have seen him. He was causing major headaches for the Sounder defense.
He looked almost as good as Glenn did in that Orange blazer. Nice job there buddy. Well-deserved.
On to La La Land. Edwin, will you be there?
I thought the Landin for Oduro substitution was VERY dangerous given Landin’s lack of speed. But I thank God Landin didn’t start the game.
I still think Landin as the designated player is a joke.
Oduro truly was impressive. He’s the one person on the team who has a beautiful game to watch, .. a flow… a grace.. and speed. If only he would finish with a killer instinct.
Houston just worked their butts off until something happened in their favor. I truly like this team because they work so hard, and win by work and team discipline.
I can’t wait till they play against Beckham and Galaxy