Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching, right, hangs his head as members of the New York Red Bulls celebrate their 3-0 victory. (Julio Cortez/Houston Chronicle/Associated Press)Houston Dynamo players will be watching the rest of the Major League Soccer playdowns from afar for a change, thanks to the opportunistic New York Red Bulls.
Dane Richards led the way with a goal and assist to help New York oust the two-time MLS Cup champions on goal aggregate Sunday with a 3-0 win in the Western Conference semifinal in Houston.
New York goalkeeper Danny Cepero had to make just five saves for the shutout.
The Red Bulls, which had tied 1-1 with Dynamo in the series opener Nov.1, have advanced to the conference final for the second time. Their last appearance was in 2000.
New York, which qualified for the playoffs as a wild card out of the Eastern Conference, will travel to Real Salt Lake for the West championship on Nov. 15.
Houston had won the Western Conference regular-season title. The conference champion hasn't advanced to the conference final since 2003.
Richards gave the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute when he beat Houston's Wade Barrett to a pass from Sinisa Ubiparipovic. Richards took it up the middle and let a shot go from 20 yards out, finding the upper left corner of the net.
Juan Pablo Angel converted a penalty kick in the 36th minute after Houston's Ricardo Clark was called for a handball in the box.
The Red Bulls put the game away in the 80th minute when Richards had a nice run up the right side and gave it to John Wolyniec in front of the net.
With files from the Associated Press
