Dynamo defeat FC Dallas to advance in playoffs Dynamo defeat FC Dallas to advance in MLS playoffs
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Staring the disgusting possibility of elimination in the face, the Dynamo didn't lose their cool at halftime.
Down by a goal and two goals in their aggregate-scoring Western Conference series against FC Dallas, the Dynamo decided that if luck was not on their side after a dominating effort, they would make their own.
"Soccer is a game where you create your own luck," defender Eddie Robinson said.
Did they ever. Brian Ching scored two clutch goals, including the game- and series-winners, and the Dynamo came from behind to pummel FC Dallas 4-1 in overtime Friday night at Robertson Stadium and win their home-and home series 4-2 in aggregate.
The Dynamo await the winner of the Kansas City Wizards-Chivas USA series, which will be decided today with Kansas City leading 1-0.
"I don't think the universe would be working right if we didn't win this game," Dynamo midfielder Richard Mulrooney said.
Second-half substitute Stuart Holden scored in the 67th minute, 20 minutes after coming in for defender Craig Waibel, to tie the score at 1 after Carlos Ruiz had put Dallas ahead in the first half.
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Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Image 1 of 8 Brian Ching (25) challenges FC Dallas' Bobby Rhine (19) for a ball at Robertson Stadium. Brian Ching (25) challenges FC Dallas' Bobby Rhine (19) for a ball at Robertson Stadium. Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle Image 2 of 8 Houston's Brian Mullan (9) tumbles over FC Dallas' Juan Toja (8) in the first half of MLS soccer playoff action at Robertson Stadium. Houston's Brian Mullan (9) tumbles over FC Dallas' Juan Toja (8) in the first half of MLS soccer playoff action at Robertson Stadium. Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle Image 3 of 8 Houston's Brian Mullan (9) tumbles over FC Dallas' Juan Toja (8) in the first half of MLS soccer playoff action at Robertson Stadium. Houston's Brian Mullan (9) tumbles over FC Dallas' Juan Toja (8) in the first half of MLS soccer playoff action at Robertson Stadium. Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle Image 4 of 8 Houston's Nate Jaqua (21) challenges FC Dallas' Drew Moor (14) for a header in MLS soccer playoff action at Robertson Stadium. Houston's Nate Jaqua (21) challenges FC Dallas' Drew Moor (14) for a header in MLS soccer playoff action at Robertson Stadium. Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle Image 5 of 8 Image 6 of 8 FC Dallas' Carlos Ruiz , left, celebrates after beating Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad, right, for a goal in the 14th minute in MLS soccer playoff action. FC Dallas' Carlos Ruiz , left, celebrates after beating Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad, right, for a goal in the 14th minute in MLS soccer playoff action. Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle Image 7 of 8 Brad Davis (left) and the Dynamo will play either Chivas USA or Kansas City in the next round. Brad Davis (left) and the Dynamo will play either Chivas USA or Kansas City in the next round. Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle Image 8 of 8 Dynamo defeat FC Dallas to advance in playoffs 1 / 8 Back to Gallery
The goal breathed life into the Dynamo, who trailed Dallas 2-0 in the total-goals series after they entered the decisive Game 2 with a 1-0 deficit after a loss last weekend at Frisco.
It also gave an anxious crowd of 30,088 reason to cheer again. And it never stopped.
Brad Davis capped a superb team effort with a 30-yard free-kick goal in the 10th minute of the first of two overtime periods (100th minute).
The score at the half seemed to spell disaster for the Dynamo, who had dominated play and seen at least four clear scoring chances, including two by Davis and one by Ching.
"(It was like) you've got to be kidding me," Robinson said. "We gave up one shot and it was a goal. We couldn't believe our luck (after Ruiz's goal)."
But the Dynamo caught a huge break in the 47th minute, when Dallas went down a man after St. Thomas and Mayde Creek product Arturo Alvarez lost his head and kneed Brad Davis in the groin after a battle for possession for an automatic ejection.
The red card was a blow to Dallas, who began the game without starters Pablo Richetti (groin) and Clarence Goodson (stomach virus) and lost goalkeeper Dario Sala to a knee injury a little more than 20 minutes into the match.
With the man advantage, Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear replaced defender Waibel with Holden, a midfielder, and switched to a more offensive 3-5-2 scheme.
If the Dynamo had set the tone prior to the play — they outshot Dallas 9-2 for the half, including 5-1 on shots on goal — their dominance from that point on was supreme. They finished with a 24-5 advantage on shots, 13-3 on goal.
A seemingly endless string of near misses was snapped when Ryan Cochrane found Ching with a great cross to the penalty area. Ching headed the ball to his right and toward Holden, who blasted a bouncing shot past substitute keeper Ray Burse for the 1-1 tie in the 67th minute.
Five minutes later, Ching scored off an assist by Dwayne De Rosario to put the Dynamo ahead for good, tie the series and force OT.
In the 97th minute, it was Ching with another clutch goal. Ching tallied his second goal of the match from point-blank range to put the Dynamo en route to the one-game conference final.
"From the chances we had, to outwork them, to outplay them, our coaches outcoached them," Mulrooney said. "We won every aspect, the goals finally started rolling in, and the best team won."
bernardo.fallas@chron.com
Houston Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 4-1 (4-2 on aggregate) to advance to the Western Conference semi-finals.

FC Dallas took the lead on what was their only shot on goal in the 1st half. Houston Dynamo, who had 24 shots in the 120 minutes played, equalized in the 67th minute and equalized the aggregate score 72nd minute. The match went into extra time where Brian Ching scored his 2nd of the night to give Houston the aggregate lead. Brad Davis sealed the victory in the 100th minute.

Houston Dynamo will face the winner of the Kansas City Wizards/Chivas USA 2 legged affair.