Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - The Houston Dynamo clinched a postseason berth for the seventh time in the past eight seasons on Sunday with a 2-1 win over D.C. United at RFK Stadium.
Montreal's loss to Toronto FC on Saturday opened the door for Houston to clinch a playoff spot with a win on Sunday, and the Dynamo took the lead after 11 minutes through Boniek Garcia's penalty kick.
Kyle Porter answered for United in the 29th to level the contest, but Giles Barnes struck the decisive blow in the 39th to send Houston to the playoffs.
Barnes was pulled down by United's James Riley inside the penalty area to give Garcia the spot kick, which he placed inside the right post just beyond the reach of D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
Chris Pontius set up the equalizer with a left-wing cross to the back post that Porter got up to head home from close range.
But the home side was undone by a corner kick in the 39th as Brad Davis drove the ball to near post for Barnes, who sent a glancing header across the face of goal and inside the far post.
Houston's net was rarely threatened in the second half and both Cam Weaver and Kofi Sarkodie squandered good chances to extend the Dynamo's lead in the final 10 minutes.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.