Dynamo’s goal of playoffs drifting further after beatdown

Recommended Video:

A month ago, the Dynamo had aspirations of finishing atop the MLS Eastern Conference. Now they'd be happy to get their season back on track.

The Dynamo defense had the worst home performance in franchise history Sunday, letting Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls cruise to a 4-1 victory with three unanswered goals in the second half at BBVA Compass Stadium.

"We've given up five and four (goals) in two of our last four games," Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said. "You just have to work hard. You cannot accept what's been going on. You just have to continue to work hard, continue to defend well and possess the ball well."

Running of the Bulls

No MLS opponent had scored four goals in Houston - whether at Robertson Stadium or BBVA Compass.

The Dynamo are stuck in sixth place in the East with seven games to go. Only the top five teams make the playoffs.

"What we wanted to accomplish a month ago, we're not anywhere close to where we wanted to be," goalkeeper Tally Hall said. "We're talking about winning the East a month ago (when we had) a couple of games in hand. It was looking very possible."

Houston Dynamo defender Kofi Sarkodie #8 makes a sliding tackle on New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips #99 in the first half during a soccer game at BBVA Compass Stadium, Sunday, September 8, 2013. (Bob Levey/For The Chronicle) less Houston Dynamo defender Kofi Sarkodie #8 makes a sliding tackle on New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips #99 in the first half during a soccer game at BBVA Compass Stadium, Sunday, September 8, ... more Photo: Bob Levey, Houston Chronicle Photo: Bob Levey, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Dynamo’s goal of playoffs drifting further after beatdown 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Brad Davis (U.S.), Boniek Garcia (Honduras) and Jermaine Taylor (Jamaica) missed the game because of World Cup qualifying. Davis and Garcia are the Dynamo's most valuable players, and Taylor is a starting center back. All-Star left back Corey Ashe was out with an injury.

Opening score

The Red Bulls took a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. Eric Alexander dribbled through the middle of the Dynamo defense and passed to Jonny Steele, who fed the ball back toward the middle. Alexander then caught Hall off his line and put the ball over his head and into the goal.

The Dynamo answered four minutes later when Alex Lopez curled the ball into the box with the outside of his foot to Jason Johnson. He took one touch to freeze goalkeeper Luis Robles before using the second touch to slip the ball past the near post.

A minute into the second half, Bradley Wright-Phillips headed the ball back to Henry, who took the ball outside the box and dribbled past Adam Moffat and Bobby Boswell before scoring.

Defensive breakdowns

Steele broke free in the 58th minute to give the Red Bulls a 3-1 lead. Lloyd Sam made it 4-1 in the 88th minute.

"The chances they got were not just half-chances," Hall said. "They were breakaways or clear shots. If the other team is taking chances and getting half-chances and running away with the ball with difficult shots, that's one thing. But when it's a one-on-one, there's been a breakdown."

Unfortunately for the Dynamo, they have had way too many breakdowns lately.