By JOSE M. ROMERO

Playoff positioning — and the 19th-century cannon/trophy known as El Capitan — were on the line Saturday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park, where the Houston Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 1-0 with a late goal to claim this year's Texas Derby title.

Geoff Cameron headed in a corner from teammate Brad Davis in the 87th minute, and the Dynamo fended off a couple of late chances for FCD in the closing minutes for the victory.

The win was huge for the Dynamo, who with 42 points not only took a major step toward solidifying a playoff spot, but took the lead in the Eastern Conference pending results of later matches. FC Dallas remained at 46 points and has lost three straight matches with four left to play, and could be feeling the effects of a number of CONCACAF Champions League games this month in addition to league play.

FC Dallas was close on a number of chances, in particular Jackson, who had five very good looks at a possible goal. The first was in the sixth minute, which Houston keeper Tally Hall saved. The second came in the 14th minute off a ball in mid-air from Brek Shea, 

In the 71st minute, Jackson's shot far post from the right side hit the left post, and he tried a similar shot in the 75th minute that went just wide. 

Defender George John got three good chances on headers from in the box but those were either saved or missed high. His 78th-minute chance hit the cross bar. That same fate befell forward Maicon Santos, whose 16th-minute shot hit the goalworks and bounced away. 

Andrew Jacobson, the defender on the Cameron goal, had a goal disallowed in the 42nd minute when John was called for a foul for making contact with Hall on a free ball in the box. Replays showed that the contact wasn't much; nevertheless, the play was whistled dead as Jacobson shot.

Hall was strong in goal for the Dynamo with four saves.