Postgame Notes: Houston Dynamo 0, Seattle Sounders FC 2

THE RESULT:

• Dropped the Dynamo’s all-time playoff record to 17-9-6 and their record in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs to 2-1-1.
• Dropped the Dynamo’s record in Conference Championship series to 4-3-2 all-time.
• Leveled Houston’s record against the Seattle Sounders FC in postseason at 1-1-1.
• Broke the Dynamo’s nine-game unbeaten streak, including regular-season play, which dated back to September 23 at New York City FC.

DYNAMO STARTING XI (4-3-3):

• Joe Willis; Jalil Anibaba, Adolfo Machado, Philippe Senderos, DaMarcus Beasley ©; Eric Alexander, Juan David Cabezas, Tomás Martínez; Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas, Alex

TEAM NOTES:

• The Dynamo used their 36th different starting lineup in 38 MLS matches this year, including regular season and postseason.
• The Dynamo went down a man for only the second time this season in any competition. Houston previously received a red card on August 6 at Real Salt Lake when MF Alex was sent off.
• This was the sixth time that the Dynamo fell behind inside the first 15 minutes of a game this season, and they are now 1-2-3 in those games.
• It was the tenth time this year and first time this postseason that Houston was down at halftime, and Houston is now 1-7-2 in those games this year.
• Seattle outshot the Dynamo, 14-9. It was the 16th time this year, including regular and postseason games, that the Dynamo were outshot, and they dropped to 5-5-6 in those contests.
• Seattle had the better of possession, holding the ball for 56.7 percent of the game. It was the 31st time that Houston had less possession than its opponent this season, including regular and postseason games, and the Dynamo dropped to 15-6-10 in those games. The Dynamo are 2-1-0 in the playoffs when they have less possession than their opponent.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

• GK Joe Willis saved a penalty kick from Seattle MF Nicolás Lodeiro in the 29th minute, improving to 2-for-2 in penalties saved during postseason play. The last time Willis stopped a penalty kick during a playoff game was in November 8, 2012 when D.C. United defeated the New York Red Bulls, 1-0.
• The penalty save was the third of Willis’ career across regular season and postseason play, and his first since 2016.
• Willis made his fourth career playoff appearance and third start in postseason play.
• Willis made his second postseason appearance and start as a Dynamo player.
• MF Alex made his third start and fifth appearance in the playoffs.
• MF Eric Alexander made his 13th appearance and ninth start in the postseason.
• DF Jalil Anibaba made his sixth career appearance and fourth start in the postseason, and his third playoff start with the Dynamo.
• Anibaba received his second career red card and his first in postseason play when he was deemed to have denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to Seattle MF Joevin Jones inside the penalty area.
• DF DaMarcus Beasley made his 20th appearance and 19th start in the postseason.
• Beasley started his third postseason appearance as a Dynamo player.
• MF Juan David Cabezas led the Dynamo in tackles with six, which was the most tackles by a Dynamo player in a postseason game this year.
• Cabezas started his fourth playoff game tonight.
• FW Alberth Elis led the Dynamo on shots taken with four; matching a postseason high by a Dynamo player this year.
• Elis started his fourth consecutive playoff game today.
• DF Leonardo made his sixth career appearance in the playoffs when he came into tonight’s game for MF Alex in the 32nd minute.
• DF Adolfo Machado led the Dynamo on passes with 51 and 45 of those were successful.
• Machado made his fourth start in the postseason today.
• FW Mauro Manotas made his third appearance in postseason and his second start today.
• MF Tomás Martínez led the Dynamo in touches with 68.
• Martínez made his fourth consecutive playoff start tonight.
• FW Romell Quioto made his third career appearance in the playoffs when he came in tonight for MF Eric Alexander in the 72nd minute.
• DF Dylan Remick played in his second playoff game when he came into today’s game for DF Philippe Senderos in the 55th minute.
• DF Philippe Senderos started his fourth playoff game tonight.