The Dynamo host the Seattle Sounders today at 4 p.m. in the final home game of the regular season and the club’s tenth anniversary celebration. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes and can be heard on Yahoo Sports Radio 1560 AM and Sirius XM FC (channel 85) and in Spanish on La Ranchera 850 AM and 101.7 FM. Here are some notes ahead of the game.
- The Dynamo need to win each of their last two games to have any chance at gaining the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Houston is six points back of the Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes with two games left. The first tiebreaker is wins, and all three clubs would each have 13 if they finish with 47 points each. The next is goal differential, and the Dynamo (-4) trail San Jose (+3) by seven total goals. The Dynamo will need to overcome the deficit in the final two games in order to pass San Jose. Portland (-4) is equal with the Dynamo on goal difference.
- The Dynamo have never lost the Sounders in Houston, with a 3-0-1 mark in four regular-season meetings. Houston also won the only postseason game in Houston, a 1-0 triumph after extra time in the 2009 Western Conference semifinals.
- Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle has used 28 different lineups in 32 games this season, and may need to field a 29th lineup today with Raul Rodriguez suspended after he received a red card in the 90th minute in the 4-1 loss at FC Dallas on Oct. 4. Coyle has started a different back four in defense for six consecutive games.
- All five international players are back after international duty last week. Erick “Cubo” Torres scored four goals as the Mexico Under-23 national team won the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament. DaMarcus Beasley, Luis Garrido, Boniek Garcia and Giles Barnes are also back and available.
- Sheanon Williams (left hamstring tightness) is questionable but did train late in the week for the Dynamo. Jermaine Taylor (right quad tear) and Nathan Sturgis (left hip pointer) remain doubtful for the Dynamo.
- Seattle is mostly healthy, with only defender Chad Marshall (neck sprain) questionable but expected to be available today. Oneil Fisher is also questionable with a left hamstring strain.
- After several significant milestones were reached against Colorado, only a few stand out today could be reached tonight:
- Brad Davis can make his 325th career MLS regular-season start today.
- David Horst can equal a career-high, set in 2014, with his 31st appearance of the season today.
- Will Bruin has 11 goals this season and is two shy of tying Brian Ching for the single-season regular-season club record (13 goals in 2008).
- For the 13th consecutive game, the Dynamo have several players on yellow-card warning: Ricardo Clark, Giles Barnes, Leonel Miranda and Sheannon Williams are on yellow-card warning and would miss next the next game, Oct. 25 at Vancouver, if they receive a caution today. Clark, Barnes and Williams have already been awarded a “Good Behavior Bonus” and will be on warning for the rest of the season.
- For Seattle, captain Brad Evans, Oneil Fisher and Andy Rose are on warning.
- The referee is Edvin Jurisevic, who will be in charge of his 95th career MLS game. So far, he has awarded 17 penalty kicks and issued 21 red cards.
- For today's tenth season celebration, the Dynamo will honor past legends, including Brian Ching, Eddie Robinon, Dwayne De Rosario, Craig Waibel and Pat Onstad throughout the afternoon.
Enjoy the game!
