- (Sports Network) - The Houston Dynamo host the New York Red Bulls in the decisive second leg of their Major League Soccer Western Conference Semifinal Series on Sunday afternoon, trying to take a crucial step toward a historic MLS Cup three-peat. The Dynamo (0-0-1), winners over the New England Revolution in the past two MLS Cup championships, feel good about their chances after earning a 1-1 draw vs. the Red Bulls in the first leg of the home-and-home, total goals series this past Saturday at Giants Stadium. Kei Kamara scored the late equalizer for top-seeded Houston after a Juan Pablo Angel goal just after the break gave the No. 4 Red Bulls the lead.

"We spoke about it before that it was usually the tie that is decided in the second game," Kinnear said." The first game being a blowout is quite rare, I think. So, I think we knew that even when it was 1-0, we knew to make sure to keep our shape, make sure we stayed disciplined, and we're still going to continue attacking to try and get a goal because 2-0 is much harder to overcome than 1-0. I made sure to tell them that even when it's a one-goal difference, let's make sure we don't get stretched, don't try to be desperate. Let's make sure we remain composed, and I think we did a good job at that."

The Red Bulls (0-0-1), who thought they were going to take a 1-0 lead into the second leg at Robertson Stadium, just snuck into the playoffs as the last seed, being forced into the Western Conference bracket. But the team still think it has a chance.

"All right, [I'm] disappointed," New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "I think we did just enough to have won the [first leg] against a very, very tough team. [I'm] very proud of the boys, we competed and we limited them to very few chances and at the end, I think there are more positives than negatives in this game. As I said to the guys, if we keep this team spirit and we bring this competitiveness to their place, then I think we have a chance."

The confidence gained by the Red Bulls in the first leg could go a long way toward upsetting the two-time defending champs.

"We still have 90 minutes to play for," Angel said. "I think we showed a lot of positives [in the first leg]. We competed very well against the best team in the league. Obviously, [we have] the disappointment of giving up a late goal. We should have won it and we failed. But there's still 90 minutes to go and we have to try and play a little bit more. The game should be more open for us and we'll see. It's game on."

All lot will be decided in the second leg, with the winner facing off against the winner of the Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA series next weekend in the Western Conference final.

"We have all been in that situation before and we have come out of it," Houston midfielder Dwayne De Rosario said. "Being down by one, we were able to take that and go back to our place and all we need to do now is score one goal. To get that goal [in the first leg] was just another boost of confidence going home and we're not putting anything past New York, but another 90 minutes of hard work. We're looking forward to the challenge at home."



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