The Houston Dynamo came up short in their bid for a third MLS Cup title in six years, losing 1-0 on the road against the LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup championship game Sunday night at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy became the sixth team in the 16-year history of Major League Soccer to win both the MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield as the regular-season champion.
The loss broke a five-game Dynamo winning streak and a nine-game Houston unbeaten streak. The Dynamo finished the season 10-3-4 in their final 17 games, 15-10-13 in 38 MLS games. The Dynamo are now 9-5-3 all-time in playoff games. It was the second time in three years that the Galaxy eliminated Houston in Southern California, having won the 2009 Western Conference final in extra time.
Houston’s best chances came with a long-range shot from Danny Cruz in the 44th minute and a header from Adam Moffat that went wide in the 66th minute.
The Galaxy struck for the game-winning goal with their first shot on target in the 72nd minute. Defender A.J. DeLaGarza floated a long ball into the attacking half, and David Beckham headed it toward Robbie Keane. Keane slipped a pass through for Landon Donovan, and his shot with the outside of the right foot tipped off the hand of Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall and rolled over the goal line before Geoff Cameron could reach it. The goal broke the Dynamo’s postseason shutout streak at 334 minutes, a new Dynamo record.
For Houston, midfielder Corey Ashe made his 170th career appearance for the Dynamo in all competitions, and defender Andre Hainault made his 95th career appearance in Houston orange. Captain Brian Ching made his 20th career postseason start, ninth among active players. Midfielder Colin Clark came off the bench in the 78th minute to make his first appearance of the postseason and his first playoff appearance since he played for Colorado in 2006.
The Dynamo played without midfielder and league MVP finalist Brad Davis (right quad strain) and forwards Jason Garey (right hip surgery) and Cam Weaver (right hip surgery).
