Dynamo secure playoff spot on a great night at BBVA Compass

It was a wonderful night at BBVA Compass Stadium last night!
From the weather to the result it was a great night for the Houston Dynamo and fans!
The Dynamo secured a playoff spot with a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union last night behind goals from Mac Kandji, Boniek Garcia, and Brad Davis.

So now the Dynamo after their final game of the year next weekend at Colorado can finish anywhere from 3rd to 5th place dependent upon results.
The real key for the Dynamo will be to avoid being in the fifth and final playoff spot so as not to have to go on the road for a one game playoff match.

*DYNAMO can finish third if they beat Colorado and NY (at Philly) and Chicago (home DC) loses in their final game. Both those games are in the afternoon so the Dynamo will know exactly what they need to do come Saturday night.

Goals:
5th minute: Dynamo 1-0 (Kandji)
A number of callers were critical of Mac Kandji last night on post game radio but lets be fair. His opening goal was a thing of beauty getting a touch in behind Colombian national team defender Carlos Valdes and then finishing neatly.

19th minute 1-1 (McInerney)
The Union would tie things up as Sheanon Williams would get forward and without pressure be allowed to get delivery into the box after putting the ball back on his right foot.
His delivery split both Jermaine Taylor and Cory Ashe and McInerney timed his header perfectly and snapped it past Tally Hall.
This was alot about a precision play from the Union and for a few minutes it would take the crowd out of the game.

1-1 at half

71 Dynamo 2-1 Boniek Garcia
With Philly on a free kick a committing players forward the moment seemed ripe for a counter attack. After poor delivery from Gabriel Gomez of the Union, Tally Hall quickly distributed in midfield and after one quick Brad Davis pass the Dynamo caught all but two players on the wrong side of the ball and were off on the counter. Brian Ching would play the ball to the right man in Boniek Garcia and he would cut back on his right foot and beat Zac MacMath.
Hall’s quick distribution to Brad Davis initiated the attack and Davis would make a pass to Ching that would put the entire Philly midfield in position of sprinting back towards their own goal.
This would be the game winner and a reminder that teams routinely get caught forward on the counter attack after poorly taken set pieces.
Hall deserves lots of credit here.

75th Minute 3-1 Dynamo (Davis)
Will Bruin would get brought down by Carlos Valdes and for me I am not sure this was a penalty but I have seen them called and not seem them called like you.
Brad Davis would hit a wonderful penalty for the final marker.

KEY CHANGES:
Dominic Kinnear played it beautifully in wrestling back momentum by bringing on the energetic Giles Barnes at a time early in the second half where the energy seemed flat out of the locker room.
Barnes would help lift the Dynamo playing with something to prove.
Then he would bring in Brian Ching in that normal late mode in the 67th minute and that would reap benefits bringing the crowd back into it and then with Ching providing the important ball to Boniek Garcia for the game winning goal.

PRESSURE OFF?
The anxiety of making the playoffs is now gone and the Dynamo could find a looser attitude that can now platform them in the playoffs. In MLS it is all about qualifying for the playoffs as you know and then anything is possible.

FANS
The fans in attendance were brilliant , the game was a sell-out based on ticket sales but many seats remained empty and this is a future challenge.
Still, the fans in attendance were amazing, loud, connected and the supporters group section certainly swelled with passion and enthusiasm!!
The tv camera’s shoot towards the side of the field that generally has more empty seats .
The post game call in show was a blast with tons of fans coming out to get autographs, take in live radio and revel in the victory. Catch it after every game on the SouthWest corner of the stadium.

KICK CANCER
Help us Kick childrens pediatric cancer by supporting the KICK CANCER SOCCER CAMPS Dec. 14-16 throughout Houston, in Austin, San Antonio, Lafayette, LA, and Richmond, Virginia.
ALL PROCEEDS go to CURING CHILDRENS CANCER FUND!! Go to cccfund.org to sign up and be a part of this great event!!!!