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Western Conference-leading Dynamo thrash Rapids

Oct 5, 2008 - 7:32 AM COMMERCE CITY, Colorado (Ticker) -- Despite their recent struggles, Brian Ching and the Houston Dynamo will be heading to playoffs once again.

Ching scored twice - and claimed the club record for goals in a season - as the Dynamo picked up their first victory in nearly a month with a 3-1 triumph over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

Ricardo Clark also tallied for two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston (11-5-10), which won for the first time since September 7 against Kansas City.

"It was important," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "If you look at the standings, whatever way the result swings, (Chivas) either creeps closer to us, or we pull away from them. We've had out-of-town travel and this and that, but we were very bright, we scored some very good goals, we gave up a goal, we responded well."

The Dynamo, who remained atop the Western Conference, secured a rare road win, improving their record away from home to 3-4-7. They have netted just 14 goals in those games.

Houston used an offensive outburst in this one to propel itself into the playoffs thanks to Ching, who tallied in the second minute when Preston Burpo could not clear an early attack.

"Our game plan was to come out and attack them from the start," Ching said. "We knew if we got an early lead that it would be easier for us at the end. I think we've handled it well."

After Conor Casey tied the game two minutes later, Ching - whose 12 goals surpassed his own previous team mark - gave the Dynamo a 2-1 lead when he scored off Brad Davis' free kick. Clark scored in the 19th minute to provide the final margin.

Colorado (10-13-4) fell into fourth place in the West.