Houston Dynamo FC won the 2009 MLS Western Conference playoff race on 48 points, edging LA Galaxy. It came down to the final days: Houston Dynamo FC did not lead for good until October 25, 2009.
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Western standings, 2009
Team
W
L
T
PTS
L10
Streak
Houston Dynamo FC (HOU)
13
8
9
48
3-3-4
W1
LA Galaxy (LA)
12
6
12
48
5-3-2
W1
Seattle Sounders FC (SEA)
12
7
11
47
5-2-3
W3
Chivas USA (CHV)
13
11
6
45
3-4-3
L2
Real Salt Lake (RSL)
11
12
7
40
4-4-2
W1
Colorado Rapids (COL)
10
10
10
40
2-4-4
L2
FC Dallas (DAL)
11
13
6
39
5-4-1
L1
San Jose Earthquakes (SJ)
7
14
9
30
3-3-4
L1
Final standings.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 7 times.
Houston Dynamo FC trailed by as many as 14 points on May 2, 2009.
Houston Dynamo FC took first place for good on October 25, 2009.
Houston Dynamo FC won 5 games in a row from May 23, 2009 to June 13, 2009, the longest run of the race.
Chivas USA led by 9 points as late as May 9, 2009.
Houston Dynamo FC led by as many as 7 points on August 9, 2009.
Houston Dynamo FC went 6-1-1 from May 22, 2009 to July 4, 2009, turning a deficit of 11 points into a lead of 4 points.
The top two ended the day within three points of each other on 44 of the 78 days played.
Houston Dynamo FC spent 118 of the season's 221 charted days in first place.