To commemorate the 10th season of Houston Dynamo soccer, we are counting down the Top 10 moments in Houston Dynamo history as voted on by the fans leading up to our 10th Season Celebration on Oct. 18 against the Seattle Sounders (TICKETS). Yesterday we covered Brian Ching's testimonial match, next up is No. 9:
The 2006 Western Conference Championship did not start out well for the Houston Dynamo.
Dynamo defender Adrian Serioux was whistled for a handball in the box just three minutes into the match, allowing Jovan Kirovski to send the Colorado Rapids in front early.
But forward Paul Dalglish received a beautiful flick-on from Dwayne De Rosario at the edge of the box and slid a shot under goalkeeper Joe Cannon to bring the teams level again in the 10th minute. Dalglish showed up again in the right place at the right time in the 21st minute to put the Dynamo on top. Brad Davis sent a high cross to the far post, but all that Brian Mullan could do was redirect it back across the goal. Cannon had moved off his line to challenge a potential shot, however, leaving Dalglish alone in front of goal with an empty net to head in the go-ahead goal.
Dalglish and the Dynamo had multiple opportunities to put the match away after that, but couldn't get the clincher until the 71st minute. The goal was worth the wait, however.
Trapped on the left flank between two defenders after a throw-in, Davis managed to work an inch of space to poke a pass to Alejandro Moreno. Moreno took his touch towards the endline, then provided a beautiful cross with the outside of his right boot—curling away from goal to the back post. In the TV broadcast (2:11 below), it looks as if the cross will fall into empty space. But Mullan races into the screen and slides to connect before the ball lands to send the Dynamo to their first MLS Cup appearance. Later, former Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear would describe the goal as the best Dynamo goal ever.
