[MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: D.C. United-Houston] The Houston Dynamo took a two-goal lead into the second leg and prevailed in the Eastern Conference semifinal series against regular-season champion Sporting Kansas City. Second-year forward Will Bruin, who has scored four goals in four playoff games, says that series has prepared the Dynamo for Sunday's second leg of the conference final at D.C United, into which it takes a 3-1 lead (TV: NBC Sports Network, 4 pm ET).

“I think the Kansas City game prepared us well and now we know what to expect,” Bruin said. “They’re trying to get guys back from injury as soon as possible, so we expect everybody to come out and play and they’re going to be throwing numbers at us.”'

Bruin says Sporting Kansas City, which outshot the Dynamo, 20-3, but could only manage a 1-0 win, liked to play the ball wide and cross it into the middle, where Andre Hainault and Bobby Boswell did a good job of containing the SKC attack.

“I think with D.C.," he added, "we’re going to see that as well, but we’re also going to see more direct [play], more trying to get in behind. It’s going to be somewhat similar, but there’s also going to be some difference there with some of the playmakers D.C. has. We know how much D.C. is going to attack. This is the last attempt, the last game for them to throw numbers forward. We’ve got to be ready for it.”