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Goodson's goal lifts FC Dallas over Dynamo

Oct 28, 2007 - 3:54 AM FRISCO, Texas (Ticker) -- When successful results against familiar opponents come few and far between, as they have for FC Dallas against intrastate rival Houston Dynamo, any victory is a cause for celebration.

And that's why FC Dallas' 1-0 win over the Dynamo in the first leg of the MLS Western Conference semifinal playoffs at Pizza Hut Park was grounds for both cheers and sighs of relief.

Defender Clarence Goodson scored from the left post midway through the first half for the only goal of the match as FC Dallas will take a slight advantage into the second leg meeting next Saturday in Houston.

FC Dallas had lost three of its four meeting with Houston this season, so coach Steve Morrow decided it was time for his players to prove they deserved to be on the same pitch with the Dynamo.

"I told the boys all week we had to come out fighting and competing very hard and I thought we did that tonight," Morrow said. "It's halftime and we've done the first bit and got a good home win, and now we need to go to Houston and fight and compete even harder than we did tonight."

Goodson put FC Dallas in front in the 24th minute, but the goal was set up by someone very familiar to the Houston players ex-Dynamo Adrian Serioux.

A master of the distant throw-in, Serioux heaved a long ball into the goal area from 35 yards out. Dynamo defender Cochrane tried to settle the ball with his stomach inside the penalty box, only to see the ball carom away.

Goodson was waiting at the left post and after finally controlling the ball amid several sets of legs, the FC Dallas defender put in a short shot past Houston keeper Pat Onstad to give the hosts a 1-0 edge.

"No matter who it's against, Houston knows what kind of a threat it is," said Serioux, a member of the Dynamo's MLS championship side a year ago. "You can't really defend it. Either you head it out and get on top of it, or it drops our way. Fortunately for us, the luck fell our way, and what better time than now to get a win over Houston. It's unbelievable."

The goal was the first scored by FC Dallas against Houston in three contests this season at Pizza Hut Park.

It was also the first time since just over the half-hour mark of the teams' first meeting in Houston that FC Dallas had led their intrastate rivals.

Houston coach Dominic Kinnear felt the physicality of the game was reflected in the foul count. FC Dallas was whistled for 23 fouls to Houston's eight. There were three yellow cards given to FC Dallas players compared to one for the Dynamo.

"We had some good chances and Sala made some good saves, but we were a little bit off at times," Kinnear said. "We created enough chances, but we just couldn't get a goal tonight. And when Adrian (Serioux) steps out of bounds with the ball, we know what's going to happen. We needed to attack the ball better in that situation."

The pace of the game picked up a great deal in the second half, but the FC Dallas defense was equal to the task as each Houston attack was thwarted.

The Dynamo had a magnificent chance for the equalizer in the 89th minute, but FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala made a brilliant point-blank save on 2006 MLS Cup MVP Brian Ching.

Sala finished with four saves for his sixth shutout of the season.

"All my defenders Drew Moor, Bobby Rhine, Clarence Goodson and Chris Gbandi all worked really hard tonight for me and I give all the recognition to them," Sala said. "An important thing we did tonight was to take Carlos Ruiz and Pablo Ricchetti out when they got yellow cards. They're very important players for us, and we're going to need them next week."

Houston midfielder Dwayne De Rosario had several opportunities for shots on goal, especially in the second half, but each time his attempt was either deflected away or landed wide of the goal posts.

De Rosario was confident, however, that the second leg will have a much different outcome.

"After (FC Dallas) scored, there was really one team out there," De Rosario said. "If we had taken the chances that we had, it could have easily been a 4- or 5-1 game. (Dario) Sala made some great saves and we have to look at the positives going into next week.

"We have to keep creating those chances because I don't think they can hold us out (of the goal) for another full game."