New York Red Bulls at Houston Dynamo: Match Day

The final spot in the MLS conference finals is on the line today as the New York Red Bulls square off against the defending champion Houston Dynamo.

The Red Bulls saw their 1-0 lead erased late in game one, forcing them to settle for a 1-1 tie in the opening leg. Now the series will come down to today's match at Robertson Stadium, where the Dynamo only lost one game this year and stand unbeaten in playoff history.

SBI will be providing complete coverage of today's match, with live commentary as well as post-game analysis and reaction. If you will be watching today's match, please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match (follow the running commentary after the jump):

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FINAL- That's all for now. Check back in tonight to SBI for full coverage of this shocking upset.

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FINAL- Unforgettable scenes after the game as the Red Bulls go over to the corner where the Red Bulls fans are and give them a long clap. Juan Carlos Osorio is hugging everybody in sight and doing some fist pumps. He has dealt with a lot of criticism, more than he deserved, and today he proved many a doubter wrong.

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FINAL- IT IS OVER. RED BULLS 3, DYNAMO 0. The Red Bulls have won this game and won the series. Go crazy Red Bulls fans, the seemingly impossible came true. The team hardly anybody could have imagined winning just beat the two-time defending champions.

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93rd minute- Credit goes to SBI senior writer Dylan Butler for predicting that the Red Bulls would win this series. I can't think of anybody else who made that call.

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92nd minute- This is only the second road playoff win in club history (2000 vs. Dallas being the other).

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91st minute- For those wondering, the Red Bulls were 1-0-1 against Real Salt Lake this year.

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90th minute- There will be 30 minutes of stoppage time. Okay, I'm kidding. Just five minutes (I know, that was mean).

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90th minute- Goldthwaite hurt his shoulder but is back up.

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88th minute- The Western Conference final will be on Saturday at 9:30pm at Rio Tinto Stadium against Real Salt Lake. It will be shown on Fox Soccer Channel and HDNet.

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87th minute- Mendes is in for Van Den Bergh.

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86th minute- Four minutes from utopia for Red Bulls fans (and I bet there are some cynical Red Bulls fans who are still nervous. It's okay guys, this one is in the bag.)

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85th minute- Kandji has come in for Richards, who gave his all today.

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83rd minute- Dane Richards has just had one of the best performances in MLS playoff history. You could argue that the same can be said for Danny Cepero.

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82nd minute- Dane Richards just abused the Dynamo defense and layed off a perfect pass to John Wolyniec, who tapped home his first goal of the season and proceeded to do the Thriller Dance. WOW.

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81st minute- GOAL WOLYNIEC!!!!! I can't believe what I just saw. WOW. Red Bulls 3, Dynamo 0. THIS ONE IS OVER!

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80th minute- Houston has 10 minutes left to make something happen.

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79th minute- SAVE CEPERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY HECK. A kick save and a beauty. WOW

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77th minute- Holden with a long-range shot and Cepero gets a piece of it. WoW.

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76th minute- Mac Kandi is set to come in.

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75th minute- SAVE CEPERO, tips a header over the bar. Houston's second corner is cleared out.

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75th minute- Houston corner.

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73rd minute- Ubiparipovic looks tired and is probably going to have to come out soon. Pietravallo or Mendes will need to replace him.

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72nd minute- Dangerous free kick for Houston.

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71st minute- The attendance for today's game is 30,053. A great crowd that isn't very happy right now.

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70th minute- The Dynamo has 20 minutes to make something happen. The Red Bulls have 20 minutes to make history.

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68th minute- Houston comes OH SO CLOSE!! Wow. Unbelievable. Jaqua can't latch onto a pass from Holden.

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67th minute- Stuart Holden for Brad Davis. And a Red Bulls corner kick.

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65th minute- Starting to look like the Dynamo's rush has ended. Could the Red Bulls pounce for a third?

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64th minute- This has been an incredible defensive effort by all 11 Red Bulls players so far.

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62nd minute- Richards makes a nice run off an Angel pass and draws a foul for a dangerous Red Bulls free kick.

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61st minute- The better question is how long can this Red Bulls lineup hold Houston off? You have to expect a sub or two soon just because of the pace of the game.

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60th minute- Houston is attacking with everything it can. How long can the Dynamo sustain this level of intensity?

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59th minute- SAVE CEPERO!!! Cepero with a great save on a close-range header, Ching's follow goes over.

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58th minute- Boyens called for a foul on a shoulder charge. Long free kick from the sideline for Houston

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57th minute- Houston is pouring on the pressure but the Red Bulls are standing firm.

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55th minute- Dynamo come OH SO CLOSE. DeRosario's cross goes beggin.

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53rd minute- SAVE CEPERO!!!! What a save.

Nate Jaqua comes in for Kei Kamara.

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52nd minute- Houston still struggling to piece together good possession. The Red Bulls defense is holding up and playing smart.

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49th minute- Brad Davis has moved into a central midfield role. I'm surprised Kinnear hasn't just inserted Stuart Holden. That sub has to be coming.

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48th minute- Dom Kinnear with a great move to put in Corey Ashe and take out Wade Barrett. The will play a 3-5-2 with Ashe on the left flank, where his speed can help contain Dane Richards.

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48th minute- We're back and Houston is in a 3-5-2.

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HALFTIME- What does Houston need to do to get back in this game? Getting Stuart Holden and Nate Jaqua in this game would be a start. With the field making a possession game all but impossible, getting Jaqua's physical presence in the game can help, and Holden can give you more going at people than Mullan can. Geoff Cameron is also an option. At some point Houston has to consider switching to a 3-5-2. Whether that halftime is another story.

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HALFTIME- REd Bulls 2, Dynamo 0. Yes, you just read that and I just wrote that. Unbelievable. Dane Richards scored a beauty of a first goal and set up the second by drawing a penalty. The Red Bulls defense has avoided the mistakes that have killed them in the past. Can they keep it up?

I'll say one thing. This Red Bulls lineup has outplayed the Dynamo through the better part of 135 minutes. When you look at the names in the lineup you have to just hand it to the players and to Juan Carlos Osorio for finding this combination of players.

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46th minute- Dynamo go wide on the Ching header. How do you lose Ching on a free kick?

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45th minute- Sassano with a yellow and a foul that gives Houston a DANGEROUS free kick near the left edge of the area.

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45th minute- Dane Richards has had the half of his life today.

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43rd minute- By the way, how scary was that Cepero play where Ching nearly beat him for the goal only for Cepero to race back and collecting it. This is going to be the scariest 47 minutes in the lives of Red Bulls fans.

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42nd minute- It goes to show you how bad the Red Bulls/MetroStars playoff history has been that this lead feels far from safe.

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40th minute- Apologies for the delay. Angel converted the penalty kick to make it 2-0 Red Bulls. Dane Richards with another great run past Wade Barrett before hitting the cross that drew the handball call on Ricardo Clark. Red Bulls 2, Dynamo 0.

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35th minute- PENALTY!!!! The dynamo have been called for a handball in the box and thee REd Bulls have a penalty kick now.

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34th minute- Houston's offense is relying entirely too much on long balls. DeRosario hasn't been that involved and you wonder if we'll see some changes at halftime.

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32nd minute- Richards is down with a knee to the thigh from Kamara.

It must be said that the field here at Robertson Stadium that it's almost playing like turf, but with a little less bounce. Houston can't be happy with the field.

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29th minute- For those are unaware, Dane Richards played junior college soccer here in Houston at San Jacinto. Clearly, he still likes coming here.

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27TH minute- What a sequence on the goal. Van Den Bergh finds Ubiparipovic, who sends a long ball at Angel, it goes by Angel and finds Richards, who zooms past Barrett and Boswell before a beautiful finish.

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25th minute- GOAL RED BULLS!!!! And it's Dane Richards with the finish. WOW. Great run and finish by the Jamaican!!!

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22nd minute- Great sequence by the Red Bulls nearly leads to an Angel goal but he sends it just wide. Richards with a nice run and pass to Leitch, who whips in a cross to the back-post, but Angel can't find the net.

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20th minute- Onstad catches a Red Bull corner with ease.

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18th minute- Brad Davis is hurt after taking a knock from Dane Richards.

The Red Bulls have settled down a bit and are starting to find more of the ball. They haven't strung three passes together yet.

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17th minute- Robinson trips Richards and avoids a card. Red Bulls have yet to really test the Dynamo defense.

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14th minute- Red Bulls defense has gotten past some early pressure and looks to have settled down, but Kamara looks energized today and I can see him finding an early goal.

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12th minute- Houston in complete control early on.

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9th minute- There is Richards, getting involved in the attack.

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7th minute- Wade Barrett breaks free into the area and barely misses scoring the opener. Where was Richards?

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5th minute- Van Den Bergh with an early yellow. Referee Baldomero Toledo is known to give cards out rather easily, but that was a clear yellow for holding.

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4th minute- Shaky start from Danny Cepero early on. You can bet that Houston wants to rattle Cepero, who they know is inexperienced and who is smallish and could have some trouble in the air.

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3rd minute- Jimenez does well to head away a dangerous ball from Mullan. Dynamo corner.

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1st minute- We're under way and already some testiness as Juan Pablo Angel and Bobby Boswell just pulled off a nice wrestling move on each other.

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PRE-GAME- It will be interesting how the field plays today. It is a hard field and just had a college football game played on it last night.

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PRE-GAME- Keys for the Red Bulls- Luke Sassano staying with Dwayne DeRosario and making sure he doesn't shake loose and create many chances for Houston. Dane Richards absolutely must have a better game than in game one. He not only needs to put pressure on the Dynamo defense, he must also defend and make sure Wade Barrett and Brad Davis don't have an easy time providing service from the left flank.

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PRE-GAME- There  is a sea of orange here. It's tough to say how close to a sellout we will be since a lot of fans are still making their way into the stadium. A great crowd today.

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PRE-GAME- So what should we expect from today's game? Look for Houston to attack early and often, a far cry from the physical and foul-happy approach the Dynamo employed in the first half of game one. The Red Bulls will need to stay solid defensively and withstand what should be a difficult first 20 minutes. If the Red Bulls defense can stand firm early, they have a chance. An early Dynamo goal will almost certainly turn this game into a blowout.

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PRE-GAME- Those of you trying to find the game on TV today can watch it on Telefutura as well as MSG Plus.

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PRE-GAME- Dynamo officials are expecting a large crowd that may reach 30,000 today. At least 25 or so of those fans will be Red Bulls fans, which have set up shop in an upper deck corner of Robertson Stadium.

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PRE-GAME- Only one change between the two teams as Houston is going with Kei Kamara over Nate Jaqua. The move makes plenty of sense because Kamara's speed will give the Red Bulls more trouble than Jaqua's height.

Matt Mbuta did not make the trip. He is nursing a quad injury.

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PRE-GAME- Here are the lineups for today:

RED BULLS-

-----------------Angel----------Wolyniec--------------

------------------------Ubiparipovic-------------------

Van Den Bergh--------------------------------Richards

------------------------Sassano------------------------

Goldthwaite-----Jimenez-----Boyens---------Leitch

--------------------------Cepero-----------------------

BENCH-Patterson-Sewell, Cichero, Mendes, Pietravallo, Rojas, Magee, Kandji

DYNAMO-

-----------------Ching----------Kamara------------------

------------------------DeRosario----------------------

Davis--------------------------------------------Mullan

---------------------------Clark--------------------------

Barrett-------Robinson--------Boswell------Mulrooney

-------------------------Onstad-------------------------

BENCH- Caig, Ianni, Waibel, Ashe, Cameron, Holden, Jaqua.

Comments

[Brodeo]

Wow. We are so f'd.

I don't think Juan Carlos Osorio could invite waves of Houston attack for 90 minutes any better than he just did by selecting that lineup.

[Dannyc58]

The news on Mbuta sucks! I wanted Dane replaced, proved me wrong Dane.

Lets go Red Bulls!

[RBEK]

Whatever recent form has been, I can't imagine Sinisa over Rojas or for that matter not having Kandji out there with all the marbles at stake. Except for VDB/Angel/Richards this lineup looks like a reserve squad, maybe.

We're going to need to score some goals.

[Athan]

I couldn't agree more. I am sorry, but Osorio should be let go based on this lineup alone! I mean Kandji and Mbuta are 2 guys with actual skill, and 1 didn't even make the bench! Add to the fact that all his precious foreign signings are on the bench! He is a bad judge of talent and a bad game manager.

[ManicMessiah]

Wolyniec works hard which is fine, but he's always a step slow to balls sent in where someone with more pace would get onto it.

I'd rather see Kandji, but I didn't expect anything other than what JCO put out there.

[brentmcd]

dale dale la Naranja! vamos Dynamo!

[Steve]

You guys are all idiots. You really want to all-out attack on the road against the best team in the league? This same lineup outplayed Houston last week and I don't see why we would make a single change. Leave Kandji for a second-half sub, but the starting 11 is the right lineup.

[This Guy]

Kandji may be the greatest player ever!!!
He's unproven get off his jock. The real tragedy here for RBNY supporters is no Rojas. Looks like a decent crowd in Houston. All games from now on should be in Houston or at Toyota Park.

[rob]

Any live streaming links?

[Krista]

Ugh football lines. How many championships do they have to win to get their own damn stadium?

[cathy]

a little help needed...any live streams???!!

[Krista]

http://www.atdhe.net/live-tv-328.html

[This Guy]

Try myp2p.eu
I can't get it on FSC for some reason so I am watching it on TeleFutura.

[soccerroo]

It looks like rojas is starting the rough play.

[eric]

This Guy - Telefutura, not FSC for this one

[Betinho]

http://www.atdhe.net/live-tv-328.html

[eric]

Nice stream, Krista, thanks!

[cathy]

thanks Krista!!!!!

[This Guy]

I know this is a highly discussed topic but I hate the football lines. Houston is going to open the flood gates in this one. That field looks unbelievably fast.

[Krista]

Whoever let DeRo step onto the pitch with that "hair" should be shot in the foot. Looks so stupid.

[Betinho]

That field look like it's playing like turf. Would that be an advantage for the Red Bulls?

[Cindy]

I'm having panic attacks and we're 8 minutes into the game... on a lighter note, does DeRo think that hairstyle is fly, because he is mistaken.

[Krista]

Crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrap. Don't thank me. My feed is "refreshing" and its taking forever. Gonna try to find another link.

[This Guy]

Kamara is the biggest diver in the MLS. Followed by Blanco and Heap

[This Guy]

Seriously, go to myp2p.eu they have about 10 links their under the Live Sports tab. I'm watching on DirectTV but I looked at it before the game. You should be able to find something.

[brentmcd]

New York survives the early surge from Houston. Robinson nearly earns his usual card

[Krista]

That looked painful. Hate for Houston to use a sub this early.

[This Guy]

That pitch is just too fast. The goals are bound to come.

[soccerroo]

Houston seems out of synch defensively. If RB want to win now would be the time to take advantage.

[ManicMessiah]

Richards!!!!!! Nice!

[soccerroo]

told ya. 1-0 redbulls.

[RS]

Dane!!!

Los Red Bulls!!!!!!!!!!

[This Guy]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL
Richards!
This match just got interesting for me. I thought it would be a Dynamo rout.

[Lous]

Goal, Goal, Goaaallllll. Take it houston.

[Krista]

That was ugly. Houston has no rhythm going. If Houston lose... nope can't complete that thought.

[Lou]

I don't understand why everyone thinks houston will cream us, it's not like there Chicago or anything, so there definitely beatable.

[Betinho]

Wow...how is it possible the field is palying that fast??? The groundskeeper should be hung. University of Houston football > Houston Dynamo soccer?

[Joel]

cynical foul there by goldthwaite.

[ManicMessiah]

Hopefully Richards can carry on.

[ManicMessiah]

What a save by Cepero! It was offsides, but still.

[Isaac]

I know the red bulls are winning but I have a good feeling the Dynamo will pull one back.

[Cindy]

question -- Houston always plays their home games at Robertson Field right? Wouldn't they be better at home even if the field is more turf-like?

[Isaac]

whoa..hand ball

[Isaac]

whoa..hand ball

[RS]

El Capitan!! Los Red Bulls!!

[Isaac]

YES! Well done Juan.

[ManicMessiah]

penalty! I wish they would show a slo-mo replay of it.

2-0 nontheless. Angel!!!

[Lou]

Goalazoazoazo Juan Pablo, again eat it houston.

[eric]

The champs are on the ropes!

[Krista]

I'm so pissed. Ugly, ugly half for Houston.

[Betinho]

they are like 0-1000 on turf! That field is not normally like that. it's insane that field is in that condition for a home playoff game. They are not able to play thier game. It's really shocking to me.

If this doesn't make a case for SSS's I don't know what does.

[Isaac]

Unbelieveable from Danny Ceparo.....

[Betinho]

Look at that bouncing ball!!!! Un-f-ing believable!

[Lou]

Cepero screwed up, but recovered nice save.

[ManicMessiah]

I don't know what Cepero was thinking, but great job to clean up his own mess.

[FootballLines]

Doesn't Houston have their own Soccer Specific stadium? If so, why does the stadium have football lines?

[kebzach]

That field look like it's playing like turf. Would that be an advantage for the Red Bulls?

Posted by: Betinho

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Yes it would be. Harder field, which RBNY is more used to, and poorer field conditions usually benefit the lesser skilled team more than the higher skilled team.

[Cindy]

Houston does not have their own SSS and I can't think of a team who deserves one more.

[kebzach]

Doesn't Houston have their own Soccer Specific stadium? If so, why does the stadium have football lines?

Posted by: FootballLines

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Welcome to funnyland.

[kebzach]

Wow...how is it possible the field is palying that fast??? The groundskeeper should be hung. University of Houston football > Houston Dynamo soccer?

Posted by: Betinho

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Yes, I would indeed think that U of H football (at the U of H stadium) would rank higher than a rental tenant's interests. That's pretty much common sense.

[Krista]

DK needs to make changes after this half. Houston wont get 3 goals with the way they are playing right now.

[Betinho]

Kebzach, It was kind of a retoricle question.

[don garber]

JCO job saved. mission accomplished

[A Diddy]

Thanks for the commentary, Ives! No Telefutura in North Dakota.

I'm gobsmacked and delighted to hear that RBNY is reversing the historical trend. Yes We Can! Yes We Can!

[Krista]

Ives - What does Houston need to do/change to get back into this game?

I just can't believe they are playing like this at home.

[Steve]

Just tuned in form Chicago.... GO BULLS!!!!!!!

Can't believe I'm saying that.

I REALLY can't believe you boys are up 2 nil.

[dolan]

If I were NY, I wouldn't go into a defensive shell. Keep playing the way you did in the first half. Sitting back and defending for 45+ will not work imo. I'm afraid Osorio will play it cautious and conservative.

[Orri]

Fantastic Red Bulls!!! Anyone watching on the net? Trying to find a website to watch it but no luck so far

[brentmcd]

Houston is playing horribly. No imagination, no creativity. 2-0 is probably a fair halftime result. Having said that, a comeback is certainly within the realm of possibility....

[Manny F]

Funny to think that San Jose can get a SSS before Houston. I feel bad for San Jose having to lose a Championship team like Houston. If Houston loses, it would be the first time we can sense what that fanbase would be without a "winning" team.

[brentmcd]

Houston playing with more fire early in the second half. Need to get an early one

[Joel]

http://www.atdhe.net/live-tv-328.html

i'm watching it here

[Louis]

this has been posted before but..

go to http://www.atdhe.net/live-tv-328.html to watch

[eric]

Hou needs goals - put in Holden. 60 min mark minimum, give the subs time to change the game!!!

[Betinho]

Despite the field Houston has had 3-4 very good chances and haven't finished.

[martha in miami]

yeeeee ha! wtg boys...at duffy*s sportsbar watching dolphins, nascar, european soccer and ives. I am afraid to ask for telefutura even though this in Miami, as the lose whenever I watch and win whenever I blog! phew! I told ya so on JCO, am I his biggest fan or what? Also nothing wrong w/ diving says the Italian Colombian fan!

[ManicMessiah]

The start of the 2nd half is resembling the start of the game an awful lot.

[Joel]

If NYRB tries to go into a shell for the whole 2nd half, they will lose the game. Osorio tends to go defensive too early

[ManicMessiah]

Conway has lost his job at this point with how well Cepero is playing since he took over.

[eric]

Bad signs for Hou - Mr. Clutch DDR missed a great chance to pull one back, now the team is starting to show signs of losing their composure. Very un-Dynamo like at play-off time.

[eric]

And 63rd min - FREAKIN' PUT HOLDEN IN!!!

It's the season now, boys.

[kebzach]

Don't know why SH isn't in the game yet for Houston...what's the risk at this point?

[eric]

Ok... but I would have subbed Mullen, Davis brings more offense. Again, screw defensive cover, you score goals or you go home.

[ManicMessiah]

At least 4 or 5 times the dynamo have played a shot or cross that rolled across goal.

[Joel]

Wow...amazing run by D-Ro. Not a good cross to finish it off though.

[Geoff]

I can't help but wonder if Houston is going to pull something from their locker that's stashed away. Never count them out.

[ManicMessiah]

Jiminez strips the ball and earns the throw with a great tackle. He's having a superb game.

[Krista]

If Houston loses I'm blaming DeRo's hair. Yup, you read that right.

[eric]

Hou still expending too much energy fighting w refs. Not good.

[metrostar 4 life]

best game I have seen Dane and Diego play all year-they both just look really comfortable

[Krista]

Just saw a Liverpool flag... :) :)

Want Houston to at least tie and then go into OT.

[RS]

And here comes the Brian Mullan whining that we all know and love. I knew we couldn't get through a full 90 without seeing it.

[ManicMessiah]

Another brilliant save from Cepero.

[brentmcd]

incredible effort from new york. game getting very physical

[brentmcd]

cepero = man of the match

[ManicMessiah]

Kick save!!!!! Geez, how many big saves can a keeper make?

[Krista]

How can they keep missing those damn headers???????

Damn Cepero. Enemy number one.

[Alticooper]

omg

[Betinho]

Dane Richards = Man of Match

[ManicMessiah]

WOLY!!!!!! 3-0!!!!!