Leg 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal between Houston Dynamo and Portland Timbers ended in a 0-0 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium last Monday. The teams will match up again on Sunday evening (6:30 p.m. CT on FS1 | WATCH PARTY) for the decisive second leg. Below is a grid showing the scoreline that each team needs to advance to the Western Conference Championship.
How to read the grid: Choose a scoreline and see who advance. In non-grid terms, if one team wins in regulation they will advance to the Western Conference Championship against Seattle Sounders FC. If the match on Sunday night is tied 1-1 (or 2-2, or 3-3, etc.) at the end of regulation time, Houston will advance to the Western Conference Championship on away goals (see below for more information on the away goals tiebreaker). A 0-0 draw is the only scoreline that would push the match to extra time.
Houston vs Portland matchup notes:
- Last match at Providence Park: March 18. Portland won 4-2.
- The Timbers are 4-1-1 all-time at home against the Dynamo.
- Portland were shut out at home just once this season. (April 15 vs SKC)
The away goals rule: The away goals rule is a tiebreaking method that is used to determine the winner of a two-legged series, such as the MLS Conference Semifinals and Conference Championships. If two teams are tied on aggregate at the end of regulation time of the second leg, the away goals rule is applied as the first tiebreaker. The winner is the team with the most goals scored away from home.
