Dynamo return to MLS Cup

After a scoreless first half, the Dynamo opened up the attack with Andre Hainault and Carlo Costly goals as Houston earned 2-0 win over Sporting K.C. at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park and a return to the MLS Cup Final for the first time since 2007.

Hainault opened the scoring in the 53rd minute when a corralled a loose ball inside the box and fired it through to give the guests the lead. Costly doubled the lead late when he went beat the K.C. defense and banged it into the back of the net as Houston achieved another rare road victory.

Sporting K.C. secured the first shot on frame in the 2nd minute when Kei Kamara fired away at Tally Hall, who wrapped up the chance with relative ease.

Calen Carr nearly gave the Dynamo an early lead in the 16th minute when took a threaded ball from Brad Davis and went alone on Jimmy Nielson, who elevated to deny Carr’s rising shot and keep the scoreboard unblemished.

The skies darkened for the Dynamo in the 35th minute when Davis, who’s been so instrumental to Houston’s push to the playoffs, went down in pain after a challenge on Graham Zusi. Although it appeared that Zusi bore the brunt of the tackle, it was Davis who had to be carried off the pitch minutes later.

Without their midfield maestro, the Dynamo called upon Adam Moffat to steer the attack. It worked to perfection in the 53rd minute when he delivered a dangerous ball into the box, where Jermaine Taylor’s header clanked off the post and skipped in front of the net. Enter Hainault, who followed it up and pounded it through to make it a 1-0 game.

A minute later, the Dynamo nearly doubled it when Corey Ashe sprung through the defense and sent it right to Luiz Camargo, who’s touch eluded him and watched the ball bounce into the arms of Nielson.

In the 57th minute, K.C. nearly equalized when Zuski sent into smart free kick into the box, where Aurelien Collin nearly settled it before it bounced around box where Julio Cesar went begging as Hall finally smothered it in the shadow of his goal.

Three minutes from regulation, Camargo made up for his mistakes when he spring Costly, who beat Collin for speed and delivered the dagger as the Dynamo raised the Eastern Conference Championship trophy when it was all said and done.