Houston Falls Flat in Costa Rica

Unlike tonight's earlier game, the Major League Soccer side was facing an away challenge. However, while D.C. United squad that had to overcome a two-goal deficit in its home fixture, the Houston Dynamo were even on aggregate with Deportivo Saprissa after a nil-nil draw last week in Texas. Unfortunately for MLS, the Costa Rican side's significant home field advantage trumped the draw and Saprissa advanced into the finals with a convincing 3-0 win.

Already down four starters -- Pat Onstad, Eddie Robinson, Stuart Holden, and Bobby Boswell -- coach Dominic Kinnear was forced to make a change just 10 minutes into the game when Brian Mullan replaced an injured Craig Waibel.

After being outshot 17-8 during the first leg, Saprissa seemed determined to control the run of play. Bolstered by its loud and proud crowd, the home side did just that. The aggression almost paid off in the 13th minute, but Ronald Gomez' header flew just high. At the 35-minute mark, Armando Alonso put the home side ahead to stay when his shot off a Jervis Drummond feed hit Patrick Ianni and rolled into the net.

The game was all but over three minutes after halftime when Celso Borges found himself alone with the ball and the time to shoot. He did not miss.

Despite a hostile home crowd, the Dynamo continued to struggle valiantly. Houston's last gasp came in the 77th minute after Mullan's snap header found itself flying just wide. A Dynamo miscommunication on the ensuing goal kick gave Saprissa's Jairo Arrieta an empty net and he added to the beatdown. A quarter hour remained, but it didn't matter: The fat lady had begun to sing "Ole."