MLS: Houston 0, Chivas USA 0 (draw)

CARSON, Calif., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Chivas USA earned its first MLS conference championship Saturday night, playing Houston to a 0-0 draw, despite being a man down much of the game.

Chivas played the final 50 minutes shorthanded because of a red card for defender Lawson Vaughn for a dangerous tackle on the Dynamo's Richard Mulrooney.

Houston (15-8-7) -- the defending MLS Cup champion -- earned the second seed in the Western playoff bracket. The Dynamo will meet Dallas in the Western Conference Semifinal Series.

Chivas (15-7-8) must await the outcome of Sunday's match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Chicago Fire to learn whether its first playoff opponent will be Chicago, Los Angeles or Kansas City.