HOUSTON, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Brian Ching scored in first-half stoppage time Thursday to give the Houston Dynamo a 1-0 win over Philadelphia and a semifinal berth in the MLS playoffs.
The Dynamo won the two-match series by an aggregate 3-1 total and will meet Sporting Kansas City, with a spot in the MLS Cup at stake. Houston won the league title in 2006 and 2007.
After losing 2-1 at home in the first game of the series, Philadelphia seldom threatened in the second contest.
Ching ran onto a free kick taken on the left wing by Brad Davis and drove a header into the top-right corner for the game's only goal. Davis had 16 assists during the regular season, tops in MLS.
It was the first post-season goal of Ching's career. Houston ran its unbeaten streak to eight games.
