Houston Dynamo retain Eastern Conference title

MLS Playoffs | Playoffs

Nov 18, 2012 at 9pm UK

Houston Dynamo advance to the MLS Cup Final after completing a 4-2 aggregate victory over DC United thanks to a goal from Boniek Garcia.

Published: November 18 2012 | 23:14

Last updated: November 18 2012 | 23:18

Houston Dynamo produced a professional display against DC United to retain their Eastern Conference title and book a return to the MLS Cup Final.

Dynamo were in the ascendancy after building a 3-1 first-leg lead back in Houston last week, putting pressure on DC to chase the game from the outset.

United controlled possession in the early stages but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

Branko Boskovic fired a header over the top for DC after 30 minutes and his side were punished for wasting that chance just moments later.

An incisive Houston break saw Brad Davis find space at the byline before cutting back to Boniek Garcia, who smashed into the roof of the net from close range.

DC went for broke in the second half but could not find a way past a steely Dynamo defence.

Lewis Neal, Chris Korb and Maicon Santos all went close but could not make the breakthrough to ensure United's season came to an abrupt end.

United finally made the breakthrough seven minutes from time through Boskovic but it was too late to mount a dramatic comeback.

Houston become the first team to book their place in the MLS Cup Final and could face Los Angeles Galaxy in a repeat of last year's final if they overcome the Seattle Sounders later tonight.

Share this article now:

Eastern Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Inter Miami Inter Miami	34	22	8	4	79	49	30	74
2	Columbus Crew	34	19	9	6	72	40	32	66
3	FC Cincinnati Cincinnati	34	18	5	11	58	48	10	59
4	Orlando City	34	15	7	12	59	50	9	52
5	Charlotte FC Charlotte FC	34	14	9	11	46	37	9	51
6	New York City FC NY City	34	14	8	12	54	49	5	50
7	New York Red Bulls NY Red Bulls	34	11	14	9	55	50	5	47
8	CF Montreal Montreal	34	11	10	13	48	64	-16	43
9	Atlanta United Atlanta	34	10	10	14	46	49	-3	40
10	DC United	34	10	10	14	52	70	-18	40
11	Philadelphia Union Philadelphia	34	9	10	15	62	55	7	37
12	Toronto	34	11	4	19	40	61	-21	37
13	Nashville SC Nashville	34	9	9	16	38	54	-16	36
14	New England Revolution New England	34	9	4	21	37	74	-37	31
15	Chicago Fire	34	7	9	18	40	62	-22	30

Western Conference

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Los Angeles FC Los Angeles	34	19	7	8	63	43	20	64
2	Los Angeles Galaxy LA Galaxy	34	19	7	8	69	50	19	64
3	Real Salt Lake Salt Lake	34	16	11	7	65	48	17	59
4	Seattle Sounders Seattle	34	16	9	9	51	35	16	57
5	Houston Dynamo Houston	34	15	9	10	47	39	8	54
6	Minnesota United Minnesota Utd	34	15	7	12	58	49	9	52
7	Colorado Rapids Colorado	34	15	5	14	61	60	1	50
8	Portland Timbers Portland	34	12	11	11	65	56	9	47
9	Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver	34	13	8	13	52	49	3	47
10	Austin FC Austin	34	11	9	14	39	48	-9	42
11	Dallas	34	11	8	15	54	56	-2	41
12	St Louis City	34	8	13	13	50	63	-13	37
13	Sporting Kansas City Kansas	34	8	7	19	51	66	-15	31
14	San Jose Earthquakes Earthquakes	34	6	3	25	41	78	-37	21