Dynamo reach MLS Cup with aggregate win over D.C. United

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WASHINGTON — As the victorious Dynamo headed toward their locker room at RFK Stadium with the Eastern Conference championship trophy Sunday, coach Dominic Kinnear had one final request.

"Take it to the fans! Take it to the fans!" Kinnear said.

Captain Brad Davis and his teammates then marched up almost three dozen steps and over three railings to reach the Dynamo supporters, beginning another celebration.

It was clear both parties want more than the Eastern Conference crown they won over D.C. United.

"We want the Cup! We want the Cup! We want the Cup!" the two-time MLS champions and approximately 100 fans chanted.

They want the MLS Cup they were denied last year by the Los Angeles Galaxy. And the Dynamo will play for the MLS Cup against the Galaxy on Dec. 1.

Boniek Garcia gave the Dynamo the lead in the 34th minute, and they withstood D.C. United's late pressure to seal their second consecutive Eastern Conference title before a dejected crowd of 20,015.

By tying D.C. United 1-1 on Sunday in the second leg of the home-and-away set, the Dynamo won the Eastern Conference title with an aggregate score of 4-2 after winning the first leg 3-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium.

For the second consecutive year and fourth time in seven seasons, the Dynamo earned a berth in the MLS Cup.

Houston Dynamo's Boniek Garcia (27) celebrates after scoring a goal against D.C. United during the first half. Houston Dynamo's Boniek Garcia (27) celebrates after scoring a goal against D.C. United during the first half. Photo: Luis M. Alvarez, Associated Press Photo: Luis M. Alvarez, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Dynamo reach MLS Cup with aggregate win over D.C. United 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

"Since day one of this season and day one of me coming to this team, it's a team that expects nothing but winning the whole thing," goalkeeper Tally Hall said. "There's something special about the players on this team, the staff of this team, the fans of this team. And it all comes together.

"Of course they want the Cup. They deserve the Cup. They've been great fans. Top players ... what else do you want?"

To reach the final, the fifth-seeded Dynamo knocked off the fourth-seeded Chicago Fire in the wild-card match and then top-seeded Sporting Kansas City and second-seeded D.C. United. They accomplished that while playing five games in 19 days and three of five matches on the road.

A year after losing the final 1-0 to the Galaxy, the Dynamo will have almost two weeks of rest before the match at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Garcia converts

D.C. United had only one shot in the first half, but it was a menacing strike in the 10th minute. Hall made a diving stop on Chris Korb's powerful shot from long distance.

The Dynamo weren't as forgiving 24 minutes later. Davis drove down the right side of the 18-yard box. Once he got to the end line, he passed the ball back with the outside of his left foot. Garcia took care of the rest with a shot past goalkeeper Bill Hamid from inside the 6-yard box.

"It hurt," D.C. United coach Ben Olsen said of the early deficit that gave the Dynamo a temporary three-goal aggregate lead.

Hall made another diving save to deny a sprinting Hamdi Salihi a chance to get a touch on the ball in the 68th minute. Salihi uncorked a powerful shot in the 71st minute, but Hall was in perfect position to secure the ball.

United forces play

The Dynamo had a chance to add to the lead in the 72nd minute when Mac Kandji broke free, but his shot sailed wide left.

D.C. United's Branko Boskovic weaved through the defense in the 83rd minute to tie the score at 1.

The Dynamo had never had to climb from the fifth seed. They'd usually been the top or second seed, but Sunday they hardly acted like underdogs.

"I don't think we've overachieved," Davis said, "because we've been there before."

Like their fans, they are hungry for more.

"We know they want the Cup," Bobby Boswell said. "We want it more than they do."