The Houston Dynamo gave a far better showing of themselves in MLS Cup 2012, but in the end, the result was the same as the Dynamo fell 3-1 on Saturday.
Houston was competitive from the outset and took the lead in the 44th minute when Calen Carr made a darting run behind the Galaxy defense off a through-ball by Adam Moffat for the opening strike. After the goal, Carr was consistently testing the Galaxy defense at the start of the second half, but in the 57th minute, the forward was forced to leave the match after a collision with Omar Gonzalez left him unable to continue.
Three minutes later, the Galaxy would level on a goal by Gonzalez and in the 65th minute, a handball by Ricardo Clark set up a Landon Donovan penalty kick to put LA ahead for good. The Galaxy would add a third in the fourth minute of stoppage time on a Robbie Keane penalty kick after a Tally Hall foul in the box on the Irishman.
For a look at the match from a Houston perspective, check out these links:
From Houston Chronicle's Jesus Ortiz: Better effort by Dynamo, but a worse loss
From Ortiz again: Kinnear and the Dynamo have much to be proud about their 2012 season
From MLSsoccer.com's Andrew Wiebe: Dynamo come undone after frightening Carr injury
From MLSsoccer.com's Darrel Lovell: Dynamo question referee calls that led to LA goals
From Lovell again: Houston GK Tally Hall: Gonzalez should get called to USMNT "every time"
Below is a video with interviews of Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear and midfielder Brad Davis:
