THE BASICS
Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union
Saturday, October 20, 6:30 p.m. CT
BBVA Compass Stadium
Union lead 3-1-2
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV
NBC Sports Network - 6:30 p.m. (DirecTV: 603; Dish Network: 151; AT&T U-Verse: SD= 640 HD=1610; Comcast: SD= 49 HD=649)
Radio
KBME 790 - 6 p.m.
La Ranchera 850 - 6 p.m.
PREVIEW
The Houston Dynamo will be aiming to extend their long unbeaten run while also securing a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs when they play host to Philadelphia Union on Saturday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo are undefeated at home over the entire season, their streak now at 24 games, and are still hanging on to fifth place in the Eastern Conference following their 1-1 draw with Montréal last time out. Union are eliminated from playoff consideration but have won two games in a row, coming off a 1-0 win against New England before the international break.
REFEREE: Mark Geiger. SAR (bench): Greg Barkey; JAR (opposite): Adam Garner; 4th: Ismail Elfath MLS Career: 102 games; FC/gm: 26.5; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 26; pens: 34
INJURY REPORT PRESENTED BY THE METHODIST HOSPITAL SYSTEM (As of Tuesday, October 16)
- HOUSTON DYNAMO – QUESTIONABLE: MF Brad Davis (L calf strain)
- PHILADELPHIA UNION – OUT: DF Bakary Soumare (R knee menisectomy recovery); DOUBTFUL: DF Sheanon Williams (L ankle peroneal/Achilles strain); QUESTIONABLE: DF Gabriel Farfan (R ankle contusion); MF Danny Cruz (L big toe sesamoid stress fracture); FW Zach Pfeffer (L knee contusion); PROBABLE: MF Freddy Adu (L quad strain)
SUSPENDED: None
WARNINGS:
- SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: HOU: Bobby Boswell … PHI: Gabriel Farfan, Gabriel Gomez, Michael Lahoud
- SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: HOU: Corey Ashe, Calen Carr, Brad Davis, Macoumba Kandji … PHI: Brian Carroll, Jack McInerney, Carlos Valdes, Michael Farfan
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
- ALL-TIME (6 meetings): Dynamo 1 win, 7 goals … Union 3 wins, 10 goals … Ties 2
- AT HOUSTON (3 meetings): Dynamo 1 win, 4 goals … Union 2 wins, 5 goals … Ties 0
- 2012 (MLS): 6/30: HOU 2, PHI 1 (Davis 20; Ching 83 – Daniel 46); 9/23: PHI 3, HOU 1 (Adu 28, 50; Martinez 70 – Garcia 44)
LAST MEETING (MLS):
- Union took the lead in the 28th minute. Right back Ray Gaddis made a marauding run up the field and put in a cross that eventually found its way to Freddy Adu beyond the far post. Adu then cut the ball in front of goal and beat Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall to the near post.
- The Dynamo pulled level just a minute before halftime when Boniek García hit a beautiful strike off the post and in, following a great feed from Will Bruin, who sucked both defenders to him in the middle of the box.
- Adu netted his second goal of game when he banged home a 50th-minute penalty kick after André Hainault dragged down Philly’s Sheanon Williams in the box. Adu then left the game while clutching his left leg, replaced by Keon Daniel.
- Josué Martinez capped the victory in the 71th minute when he got his foot on a blast from center back Amobi Okugo and took another touch to beat Hall right in front of the net.
- PHILADELPHIA UNION (4-4-2): Zac MacMath - Raymon Gaddis, Carlos Valdes, Amobi Okugo, Sheanon Williams - Danny Cruz (Chris Albright 81), Michael Lahoud, Brian Carroll, Michael Farfan - Freddy Adu (Keon Daniel 57 / Antoine Hoppenot 66), Josue Martinez.
- HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-3-3): Tally Hall - Kofi Sarkodie, Andre Hainault (Cam Weaver 81), Bobby Boswell, Jermaine Taylor - Luiz Camargo (Giles Barnes 63), Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis - Boniek Garcia, Will Bruin, Macoumba Kandji (Calen Carr 46).
