Dallas blanks Houston

Clarence Goodson scored unassisted in the 23d minute, enabling FC Dallas to beat the Houston Dynamo, 1-0, last night in Frisco, Texas, in the opener of their two-game playoff series.

The second game of the aggregate-goal Western Conference semifinal series will be Friday in Houston, where the Dynamo had two wins as part of a 3-0-1 regular-season record against FC Dallas.

Goodson, who was named the team's defender of the year earlier in the day, knocked a shot into the left corner of the net from inside the goalie's box. The goal was set up by a throw-in from the right side by Adrian Serioux. The pass from 30 yards bounced off defender Ryan Cochrane and directly to Goodson.

FC Dallas goalie Dario Sala, who had four save en route to his first playoff shutout, made a two-handed stop on direct shot by Brian Ching in the 87th minute.

The Dynamo finished with a 15-9 advantage in shots and had nine corner kicks to none for FC Dallas.

Wizards 1, Chivas USA 0 - Davy Arnaud scored on a free kick in the 35th minute, lifting host Kansas City in the opening game of their playoff series, which concludes Saturday in Carson, Calif.

The Wizards, the lowest seed in the MLS playoffs, tallied after Eddie Johnson was fouled by Paulo Nagamura just to the right of the Chivas goal, about 25 yards out.

Chivas USA played without its two top scorers, Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov. Both sat out with injuries but could return next weekend.