Houston was never destined to get a bunch of chances in its big, second-leg contest Wednesday in New Jersey. The Dynamo, up against its fifth match in 14 days, playing on the road, and facing a star-strewn team with about three times the payroll, had to play it safe all along.
That meant not putting many numbers into the attack … and clinging tightly to abundant faith. The faith was that one of the Dynamo playmakers, perhaps veteran U.S. international Brad Davis or Honduran international Boniek Garcia, could capitalize on one of the few thrusts Houston would have.
Davis did, finishing clinically when he picked off an ill-advised pass in the Red Bulls defensive third before the break Wednesday. Garcia did his part, too, at the moment of series-turning truth.
But it was Omar Cummings scoring a huge goal yet again, who won the series for his hard-working, overachieving club. Cummings was the hero on Sunday, too, finding the equalizer two minutes into stoppage time in Sunday’s 2-2 draw in Texas. Both goals came off the bench.
Garcia launched the telling sequence with a sweet little release along the right for outside back Kofi Sarkodie. Cam Weaver worked the ball back across goal, and Cummings worked his way inside his mark, getting just enough on the 104th minute shot (14 minutes into extra time Wednesday) for the goal that puts Houston that much closer to its fifth MLS Cup appearance in eight years.
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