MLS Wrap: Houston stays alive in playoff race

It has been conventional wisdom in Major League Soccer for a while now that you should never bet against Houston Dynamo manager Dominic Kinnear. Year after year, the Dynamo have mounted late-season charges to the playoffs, and more often than not, have rode that momentum deep into the postseason.

As Houston headed to Toronto last night, it seemed that they might finally have run out of magic. Toronto FC had $6 million striker Jermain Defoe back for the first time in two months, and finally seemed to be developing the mental strength to win a big home game.

But thanks to an incredible performance from Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric - including a penalty kick save on Defoe - Kinnear and company are still alive.

Here are the highlights from that game, as well as Portland's big win over San Jose that kept the Timbers alive in the playoff race.

Houston Dynamo: Giles Barnes 35'

Portland Timbers: Rodney Wallace 41', Diego Valeri (PK) 51', Diego Valeri 73'