Houston beats Dallas, advances

HOUSTON -- Brian Ching and Brad Davis led Houston to the Western Conference finals Friday night, scoring in overtime after the Dynamo beat FC Dallas, 2-1, in regulation to tie the two-game, total-goals series.

The Dynamo will face tonight’s winner of the Kansas City-Chivas USA series.

Stuart Holden and Ching had second-half goals to help Houston win the game, 2-1, tying the series at two goals apiece. Dallas won the opener, 1-0, last Saturday.

That sent the game into two 15-minute extra periods. Ching scored in the fifth minute of the first overtime off an assist from Joseph Ngwenya. Barely five minutes later, Davis got a free kick from 20 yards out and sailed it over goalkeeper Ray Burse’s head.

Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear inserted Davis in the starting lineup for the second leg of the series; it was his third start in four matches after a lengthy absence because of injury.

Carlos Ruiz had a first-half goal for Dallas.