Historical Moments:
2006: Before Houston's new MLS team played its first game it was dealing with controversy
as their chosen nickname Houston 1836 created an uproar Houston's Mexican community,
who were upset that the name celebrated Texas's war for independence against
Mexico. Eventually the team would decide to drop the name and chose Dynamo
to recognize the city's energy industry. There would be plenty of energy at
Robertson Stadium on April 2nd when they beat the Colorado Rapids 5-2 in their
first game ever, as Brian Ching became an instant fan favorite with 4 goals. The
Dynamos would go on to impress their new hometown, being in first place at a
couple points in the year. After flirting with the top seed in the conference,
Dynamo would finish in 2nd place with a record of 11-8-13. Their first playoff
opponent would be newcomers Chivas USA, and they would drop the first game of the
aggregate series, 2-1 after Chivas 'keeper Brad Guzan stopped a late penalty
kick. In the next game at home, the teams were deadlocked in the series with two
goals apiece until Brian Ching scored the winning goal very late in stoppage
time. In the conference final against Colorado at home, Dynamo would fall behind
early to a penalty kick by the Rapids' Jovan Kirovski. The resilient Dynamo
would answer as Paul Dalgish scored two goals to put his team in the lead. Then
Brian Mullan scored the clinching goal and with a 3-1 win, Dynamo finished off
the Rapids and won the West.
2006 MLS Cup: Only having to travel 266 miles from Houston to Pizza Hut Park for MLS Cup, Dynamo
were confident about their chances, going up against the New England Revolution,
a team that had flirted with the title for the past 5 years. Despite the largely
pro-Houston crowd in the stadium and the hungry Revolution team, neither
team could find the net in regulation, and would settle for overtime. The first
overtime period went by without a goal. But in the 23rd minute of the extra session,
the Revs' Taylor Twellman ran down the Dynamo defense and took a shot that
went in the net, and Dynamo looked to be defeated. But in the blink of an eye,
Brian Ching responded and caught New England still celebrating, heading a cross
in less than a minute after Twellman's goal. This would propel the two teams
to the first penalty shootout in the 11-year history of MLS Cup. Holding a 4-3
lead in the final round of the penalty session, Pat Onstad would come up huge,
saving Jay Heaps' kick, clinching the championship for the men wearing orange
in their first season in Houston. For his tying goal in overtime, Ching was voted
MVP.
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