By Ridge Mahoney

More often than not, despite what popular wisdom may indicate, international matches are not decided in midfield or by rugged defending, as important as both elements are. They are won by the team more ruthless in its finishing.

So it proved to be in both of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal series won by D.C. United and Houston Thursday night.

In the next round, Mexican opposition will stack an even heavier weight on scoring chances, yet over the two legs were many MLS strikes to be savored.

United’s superb shooting in the first leg had forged a 4-1 lead on the road, and another sharp strike by Luciano Emilio – who so far looks like the real deal, kids – restored the three-goal advantage after Olimpia (Honduras) had gained some life by notching the first goal. He evaded a pocket of four defenders to shoot low and true from a sharp angle. Sweetly done.

Memo to Olimpia: It’s over. Thanks for coming.

Christian Gomez, scorer of two breathtaking goals in the first leg, converted a penalty, and another cool touch by Emilio ended the scoring at 3-2 on the night and 7-3 on aggregate.

Houston started the night down a goal to Puntarenas (Costa Rica), and needed to score two, which it did.

Neither came close to the majesty or beauty of those by United – in fact both could be stashed in containers put out by the curb to be collected weekly — but scoring can be just as much a function of persistence as brilliance. Paul Dalglish pounced on the rebound of a saved Brad Davis first-time strike, got it under control with his first touch, and then dispatched it from a yard out past flailing goalkeeper Shane Orio to tie the aggregate, 1-1, in the 27th minute.

Puntarenas came to life and several times breached the Houston back line, but either drilled shots off-frame or was denied by the stellar work of stand-in keeper Zach Wells.

The Dynamo cleaned up balls that were saved, blocked or deflected; Puntarenas didn’t.

The winning goal came with about a quarter of an hour left in regulation. Kelly Gray, in the lineup because Eddie Robinson was suspended and regular right back Craig Waibel was needed in the middle, was in about the same spot as Dalglish had been when Orio deflected a Brian Ching header onto the post. Gray got there first and pushed it into the net. From a sum total of about four yards, Houston had scored two goals, for a 2-0 win, advancing 2-1 on aggregate.

But had the initial shots not been of quality, rebounds may not have come free. And on several other occasions, only Orio’s sharp reflexes and long limbs kept the ball out.

Several late chances fell to Puntarenas, but they were squandered. From a dozen yards out Alvaro Guerrero blasted a loose ball so high over the bar it easily cleared the few rows of bleachers behind the Houston goal. The Dynamo rather carelessly gave away two free kicks just outside the box, but neither set play tested Wells.

Finishing isn’t regarded as one of the strong suits in MLS. But that factor propelled its best regular-season team and defending champion into semifinal showdowns against rivals from south of the border, where golazos are common and the top scorers earn seven-figure salaries. Value for money may decide the next round.

SEMIFINALS
D.C. United-Chivas Guadalajara
First leg, March 15 in Washington, D.C.
Second leg, April 3 in Guadalajara
Houston-Pachuca
First leg, March 14 in Houston
Second leg, April 5 in Pachuca
FINAL
First leg, April 17, 18 or 19.
Second leg, April 24, 25, 26.