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Andre Hainault, Will Bruin and Kofi Sarkodie each scored second-half goals to give the Dynamo a 3-1 win over D.C. United on Sunday in the first leg of the Eastern Conference finals.
The win gives Houston a two-goal aggregate lead heading into next Sunday’s decisive match at RFK Stadium in Washington.
“We played a wonderful second half,” said Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear. “That just shows the great character we have to score three in the second half after being down 1-0 early.”
The Dynamo extended their home unbeaten streak to 30 games in all competitions, dating to June 18, 2011, when they lost to Columbus. Houston is four wins or ties shy of matching Real Salt Lake’s league-record 34-game home unbeaten streak.
Nick DeLeon scored for United in the 27th minute.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Dynamo tied it in the 51st minute, when Hainault one-timed a pass from Boniek Garcia high into the net. It was Hainault’s first goal of these playoffs and third of his career.
Houston defender Bobby Boswell made the save of the match in the 66th, when he stopped a point-blank shot by Lionard Pajoy on the goal line with Dynamo keeper Tally Hall just out of position.
That set up Bruin’s go-ahead goal one minute later. Sarkodie got his first MLS goal in the 80th minute to seal it for the Dynamo.
