MLS Playoffs: Monday MLS Breakdown: Stars Shine As Conference Finals Beckon

Brian Ching | Dynamo forward scored a stellar volley to send Houston to Western Conference final

Been there, done that. That's exactly how Houston performed in its 1-0 extra-time victory over Seattle on Sunday afternoon.

Aside from one moment of brilliance, the Dynamo's performance wasn't particularly pretty or engaging. In the playoffs and on that mucky Robertson Stadium pitch, the fare often isn't. By limiting Seattle on the counter for most of the day and grasping control of the game in its early stages, a glittering submission wasn't required.

The winning goal combined all of that graft with a stunning bit of individual skill from Brian Ching. Dynamo right winger Brian Mullan chased down Mike Chabala's errant cross and blocked Roger Levesque's poor attempt to clear. Mullan's block fell straight to Ching, who spun and lashed home wonderfully with a first-time volley into the far side netting.

Ching's stellar goal provided the barest of margins between two sides without much between them. In the end, Houston's resolute approach and playoff experience carried them through to the Western Conference final. Submitting two similar performances may just carry the Dynamo to a third MLS Cup title in four seasons.

“If we keep playing with the same mentality and the same desire, I definitely think we can raise that cup in the next couple of weeks,” Houston midfielder Brad Davis said.

Beckham, Donovan connect when it counts

For all of its tidy combination play and all of its chances, Los Angeles couldn't find a way past Zach Thornton in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Chivas USA until its two superlative players linked up in the 70th minute.

The decisive move started with David Beckham in acres of space at the halfway line. Beckham pinged an inside-out diagonal ball from the right wing to the left wing into Landon Donovan's stride as if he'd just hit a five-yard square pass in the middle of the park. Donovan collected the sumptuous feed and crossed to Mike Magee at the far post.

At that point, the move transferred from quality to comedy. Instead of lashing the ball first-time, Magee took what he later called “anything but a perfect touch” to nearly squander the buildup. Fortunately for Magee, his second touch improved considerably and Chivas USA defender Yamith Cuesta speared him in an attempt to slide over and block any attempted shot. Cuesta's recklessness resulted in a penalty kick few could argue even with Magee's delayed and deliberate tumble to the ground.

Donovan stepped up and did what he does in the playoffs. Cool as you like, Donovan waited for Thornton to commit to his left before slotting home down the middle to collect his record-tying 16th playoff goal in 20 career outings. The final whistle might as well have blown right after Donovan tucked home.

The Galaxy will need more of the same from Beckham, Donovan and and that stingy defense in order to defeat Houston in the Western Conference final on Friday night and reach MLS Cup. Beckham said one series win simply won't cut it.

“We’re happy with tonight, but we still have not won anything,” Beckham said. “We’ve done well and deserve to be in the position we are, but we can’t get carried away because we want to go further. One more win and we’ll be in the final, but it’s a tough game first.”

Conference Semifinals, Second Leg – Questions, Thoughts, and Answers

Monday MLS Breakdown Player of the Week – Javier Morales, MF, Real Salt Lake

Javier Morales | After an indifferent season, RSL midfielder came through when his team needed him the most

RSL carried its playmaker for most of the season. When it counted, the Argentine midfielder repaid Jason Kreis' faith. Morales showed all of the audacity he displayed in the 2008 campaign, notched the crucial opening goal and added an assist on Andy Williams' match-winner in RSL's 3-2 comeback win in Columbus on Thursday. RSL combined particularly well in the attacking third and much of it had to do with Morales' considerable influence and involvement in possession.

The Starting XI (plus a substitute)

Real Salt Lake 3 – Columbus 2 (AET) (RSL advances 4-2 on aggregate)
1. What is it with the Crew and bouncing free kick goals into the net from distance? Gino Padula tallied a distant bouncer against New England on Oct. 10 and Guillermo Barros Schelotto marked his return from a one-match exile by curling a one-hopper inside the far post to stake the Crew to a 1-0 lead. The common thread between both goals: neither defense attacked the ball in the air to prevent the danger.
2. Columbus coach Robert Warzycha played the form card once again as he recalled Emmanuel Ekpo on the left wing and dropped Robbie Rogers to the bench. Ekpo's insertion didn't have the intended effect outside of his flick for Barros Schelotto's second as he struggled to come to grips with the game and failed to provide much incisiveness. One last question to ponder when discussing Warzycha's playoff lineup shuffling: should he have considered dropping Frankie Hejduk after the first leg and playing the steady, but offensively limited, Jed Zayner at right back in the decisive match? Warzycha probably couldn't have made the move for several reasons, but if a lack of form caused him to drop three other players, then Hejduk could have fallen to the bench as well.
3. Chicago should do its best to exert high pressure on Jamison Olave at every possible opportunity. The Colombian centerback gave away too many needless fouls against the Crew and struggled to cope when players ran at him. At the moment, Olave's inconsistency from moment-to-moment is the biggest concern for RSL defensively, though the Fire could pose some serious problems in the wide areas given the shape and the personnel group RSL has used out there as of late.

New England 0 – Chicago 2 (Chicago advances 3-2 on aggregate)
4. John Thorrington marked his return from injury with an active and bright performance in central midfield.  Questions were raised about how much ground Thorrington could cover and how long he could sustain the pace of those game. In hindsight, those queries look foolish. With Thorrington stamping his authority on the game alongside the quietly effective Logan Pause, the Fire can match any remaining playoff team in central midfield.  
5. Chicago coach Denis Hamlett made an astute tactical move to create more danger on the wings in the second leg. After flipping wingers Marco Pappa and Chris Rolfe for much of the first leg, Hamlett kept Pappa on the right to allow him to use his pace and trickery to run at Jay Heaps, who didn't have the proper cover from Revolution winger Kenny Mansally or the ability to corral Pappa on the night. The Guatemalan winger can run at fullbacks and beat them off the dribble, but couldn't use that to good effect on the left side because Revolution right back Kevin Alston rarely allows opposing wingers to turn the corner. That wasn't an issue on the right wing. Pappa's clever cutback set up Thorrington for the first goal before halftime and forced Revolution coach Steve Nicol to burn a halftime sub to withdraw Mansally and provide Heaps with more defensive aid.   
6. New England made a similar adjustment in the first half by channeling most of its play through Sainey Nyassi on the right wing. Nyassi ruthlessly exposed two Fire left backs in the first leg and tormented the recalled Daniel Woolard in his first start since July 18. Revolution central midfielders Shalrie Joseph and Jeff Larentowicz often collected the ball in the middle of the park and set Nyassi free with diagonal balls once the Revs gained possession. Woolard improved as the night progressed, no doubt helped by the Fire's dominance in possession and Nyassi's subsequent lack of supply.
BONUS: MLS referee of the year Alex Prus manned the middle at Toyota Park on Saturday night and then caught a plane and worked as the fourth official in Sunday night's Chivas USA – Los Angeles contest.

Seattle 0 – Houston 1 (AET) (Dynamo advances 1-0 on aggregate)
7. Seattle coach Sigi Schmid opted to play Tyrone Marshall from the start after the veteran defender recovered from a knee injury. Schmid made the right call; Marshall is a key player in a number of ways for Sounders FC and had to feature if even close to fit. Unfortunately for the veteran Jamaican center back, he didn't quite find his footing in the match. There were no particularly glaring errors, but Marshall scuffed over a header on 12 minutes and appeared a step slow on several occasions. Then again...
8. ...Houston forward Dominic Oduro made every Seattle defender look a step or two slow on the day. The frustrating Oduro, who possesses buckets of speed but often doesn't show the requisite skill to match it, troubled Sounders FC from the opening whistle. An early header signaled his intent before he rang the post on 22 minutes. Houston coach Dominic Kinnear hasn't had an appropriate partner for Brian Ching since Kei Kamara left for Kansas City, but Oduro did enough yesterday to earn a spot in the starting XI in Los Angeles on Friday night. If he can use his speed to unsettle the Galaxy central defenders, Houston may just reap the benefits.
9. After troubling the Dynamo from set pieces in the first leg, Seattle just couldn't find its range from dead balls at Robertson Stadium. Freddie Ljungberg influenced the match in fits and starts from the run of play, but his free kicks left much to be desired. Too often, the Swedish midfielder failed to clear the first man.

Chivas USA 0 – Los Angeles 1 (Los Angeles advances 3-2 on aggregate)
10. In perhaps his last match as Chivas USA manager, Preki continued to perplex with his team selection. Maykel Galindo troubled the Galaxy back line in the first leg as a halftime substitute, yet didn't merit a spot in the starting XI. Justin Braun and Maicon Santos looked lively enough as the starting front pair, but the Red-and-White could have used Galindo's penchant to get in behind defenses prior to his 60th minute arrival. Jesus Padilla certainly could have made way after another ineffective performance with Braun slotting in on the wing. Galindo's omission wasn't nearly as surprising as Shavar Thomas' inclusion at centerback. Jonathan Bornstein shifted to his natural left back position in place of Ante Jazic to accommodate Thomas' return. The move paid off after Thomas acquitted himself well despite making just two MLS starts since June 14. Makes one wonder why Thomas, a regular starter during the first half of the campaign, appeared so infrequently while Bornstein played as a makeshift central defender.
11. Los Angeles midfielder Chris Klein made a rare start on the right flank after Chris Birchall fell ill during the week. Klein took his chance well by adding some genuine width on the right and running his socks off. Klein's performance should pose a selection issue for Friday if Birchall is healthy enough to return. Birchall isn't a natural winger, but his experience in central midfield does allow David Beckham to switch from the middle to the right wing on occasion and his defensive focus may make sense with Brad Davis on Houston's left flank. That being said, Klein poses considerably more problems in the attacking third and covers a ton of ground.
12. Dema Kovalenko turned back the clock with an influential performance in the center of the park. Kovalenko harangued Sacha Kljestan all night and limited his effectiveness while showing more care and tidiness on the ball than he had in previous outings. Better to leave the reported offensive gestures toward the Chivas USA bench back in the locker room next time, though.
BONUS: Bruce Arena picked up his first playoff win since D.C. United defeated Columbus 3-0 to clinch the Eastern Conference title on Oct. 21, 1998.

Goal.com MLS Rankings

1. Los Angeles – With Beckham and Donovan in this sort of form, the Galaxy are the favorites to lift MLS Cup... (2)
2. Houston – ...but the Dynamo will make it difficult on Los Angeles in the Western Conference final because the defense looks formidable at the moment and the rest of the side simply won't quit. (4)
3. Chicago – The key for the Fire against Real Salt Lake: exploiting the space on the wings. (8)
4. Real Salt Lake – If RSL can string together another performance like the one in Columbus on Thursday night, the Claret-and-Cobalt will have more than a puncher's chance. (3)

Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSnet.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

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