page_title: Brian Mullan
section_title: Houston Dynamo
hierarchical_section_title: Brian Mullan / Career / Professional / Houston Dynamo
caption_attribution_description: English: Soccer player Brian Mullen in Huston, Texas
context_page_description: Brian Mullan is a retired American soccer player. He played for the Los Angeles Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo, and Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer. He won 5 MLS Cups, 2 Supporters' Shields, and 1 U.S. Open Cup during his career. He is one of only four players to have won MLS Cup five or more times. He also won four caps for the United States between 2004 and 2007. Not a flashy player, Mullan was known for his work rate, hustle, and determination on the field.
context_section_description: Ahead of the 2006 season, the Earthquakes franchise and players moved to Houston, Texas and rebranded as the Houston Dynamo.  On April 2, 2006, Mullan recorded 2 assists to help Houston beat the Colorado Rapids 5–2 in the inaugural game in Dynamo history.  On June 17 he had a goal and an assist to give the Dynamo a 2–1 win over Real Salt Lake. Mullan finished the regular season with 31 appearances, 2 goals, 4 assists, helping the Dynamo finish 2nd in the Western Conference.  In the first leg of the conference semifinals, Mullan had one assist in a 2–1 Dynamo loss.  Houston would recover in the second leg to win 3–2 on aggregate.  Mullan had a goal and an assist in the conference final, helping Houston to a 3–1 win over Colorado and advance to MLS Cup 2006.  In the final, Houston and the New England Revolution battled to a 0–0 draw during the first 90 minutes.  In the 113th minute, Taylor Twellman broke the deadlock to give the Revs the lead.  About 10 seconds after the ensuing kickoff, Mullan received the ball on the right wing and whipped in a cross that Brian Ching headed into the goal to level the score at one.  The Dynamo would go on to win the game on penalties.  In the 2006 U.S. Open Cup, Mullan made 2 appearances and had 1 assist to help the Dynamo reach the semifinals, where they fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy 3–1.
  The Dynamo opened the 2007 season on February 21 with a 1–0 loss to Puntarenas F.C. in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.  Mullan and the Dynamo would recover in the second leg, winning 2–0 to advance to the semifinals.  Houston beat C.F. Pachuca 2–0 at home in leg one of the semifinals.  Mullan got on the scoresheet in the second leg, but Houston lost 5–2 in extra time. The Dynamo opened MLS play on April 8 with a 0–0 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy.  On June 21, Mullan scored once to help the Dynamo to a 4–0 win over Chivas USA.  Mullan suffered a facial fracture during a 0–0 draw with Toronto FC on July 15. He returned to the field on July 25 during a 1–0 win over Club América in the North American SuperLiga.  Mullan made 3 appearances and scored once during the SuperLiga as the Dynamo reached the semifinals, where they lost to Pachuca on penalties.  Mullan ended the regular season with 1 goal and 3 assists from 28 appearances, helping the Dynamo to a 2nd place finish in the Western Conference.  Mullan played every minute of Houston's playoff run as they returned to MLS Cup, where they beat New England again, this time by a score of 2–1.  After the season, Mullan was voted Dynamo Team Co-MVP along with goalkeeper Pat Onstad in honor of their good performances throughout the year.
  Ahead of the 2008 season, Mullan signed a new contract with the Dynamo.  He also had an offseason surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee.  The Dynamo opened the 2008 season in the 2008 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, with Mullan appearing 3 times in the tournament as Houston reached the semifinal, where they lost 3–0 on aggregate to Deportivo Saprissa.  On April 19 Mullan recorded his first assist of the season in a 2–2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy. In the opening game of the 2008 North American SuperLiga group, Mullan had a goal and an assist as Houston beat Atlante F.C. 4–0.  Mullan played in each game of the tournament and had one goal and 2 assists as he helped the Dynamo reach the final, where they lost to New England on penalties. On July 23, Mullan scored his first league goal of the season in a 2–0 win over D.C. United. He had a goal and an assist on August 16 to help the Dynamo beat Real Salt Lake 4–3.  He finished the regular season with 3 goals and 5 assists from 30 appearances, helping the Dynamo to a first place finish and a second place finish overall, 6 points off the Supporters' Shield.  Houston faced off with the New York Red Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. Despite Mullan starting both legs, the Red Bulls won 4–1 on aggregate.  In the group stage for the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League, Mullan made 4 appearances and had 1 assist, helping Houston finish 2nd in the group.
  Mullan and the Dynamo
caption: Mullan at a Dynamo training session in 2008.
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