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One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi. Four Mississippi. Five Mississippi. Six Mississippi. Seven Mississippi. Eight Mississippi. Goal. New York Red Bulls goal. Eight seconds was all it took to set the Dynamo on their heels early. Fans just turning on the game at home thought that what they were seeing was archive footage but it slowly sank in that Tim Cahill had in fact just scored the fastest goal in MLS history. Dax McCarty passed the ball to Cahill, who hit in a volley from outside the 18 and I'm not sure if Tally Hall knew the game had started.
Things did not get any better as the team looked slow and sloppy as the half wore on. The defense continued to be its sub-par self of this season while the Dynamo's shots seemed to either be blocked or slowly roll right into the goal keepers arms.
During the 25th minute the Dynamo paid tribute to Brian Ching as fans held up cards with the number twenty five on them. Ching walked down out of the tunnel and clapped as he began to walk around the stadium for one last time as a player. This game was not one that deserved have any sort of Ching tribute associated with it.
The second half wasn't much better. The Red Bulls scored in the 65 minute after Bobby Boswell conceded a corner which initially looked like the smart move since he did it to prevent a goal. Hall cleared the corner but Ibrahim Sekagya headed in the loose ball after Luyindula headed Hall's clearance back in.
Then the hole got even bigger as a result of a major failure clearing the ball. Jermaine Taylor attempted to clear the ball but it hit Corey Ashe and headed back towards the Dynamo goal and Bradley Wright-Philips put it away for the final goal.
No fire. No hurry. No drive (though there was a Driver). This did not look like a team pushing for the playoffs. This did not look like a team that deserves to be in the playoffs. I dare say this looked like a team that should be sitting at home on their couches watching the playoffs.
Want in the playoffs? Well the Dynamo will have to win against D.C. United and will need a loss from at ;least one of New England, Chicago, and Montreal next week to get above the red line. It it still possible for the Dynamo to get into the playoffs, but is it deserved, after a showing like today? Debatable.