"The Sea of Orange that flooded Pizza Hut Park is heading back to Houston a very happy bunch. Thousands of Dynamo supporters arriving at the Park hours before Sunday's MLS Cup Final sporting orange t-shirts, face paint, scarves, you name it - if it was orange they had it and man could they sing. A city without a team a year ago has really found a home, and the PK win over New England only puts the icing on the cake for a whirlwind year for the fomer Earthquakes. Congratulations to a rabid fan-base...that is a very special group of staff and players.
New England fans weren't as numerous as Houston fans, but those making the trip where every bit as colorful and full of voice. How tough it's got to be to see their side take an extra-time lead, watch it disappear in an instant, and then witness the season end on a PK save by Pat Onstad? Five straight Eastern Conference Championship appearances, and three Conference titles is something to be proud of, and though that 'un-finished' business theme will linger for another year there were 10 other teams at home and watching Sunday.
Although there were moments of activity inside the 90, the nil-nil score through two halves had to be a disappointment for the teams, the league, and the supporters because both sides showed alot of offensive ability all season. Other than Taylor Twellman getting robbed mid first-half by Pat Onstad, and a boost in energy when Clint Dempsey came on just past the hour, the match was far from the high-scoring contest guys like Twellman and Ching were anticipating Saturday. That said, I understand no one wants to be the one to throw away one-shot at a title...I only wonder what we would have seen if someone had cashed in early.
Hard to believe Monday is a trade-period day. Tuesday protected lists get turned in, and Friday Toronto FC selects 10 players...just like that the off-season is here, and the Houston Dynamo head into 2007 as defending champs with now 12 teams looking to knock them off.
Might one of those teams be fielding a David Beckham or a Luis Figo...can't wait to find out!"
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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