MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Dynamo Face Chicago Fire Tonight in MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round

Published on October 31, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON, TX (Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012) - The Houston Dynamo will battle the Chicago Fire tonight at 8 p.m. CT in the MLS Cup playoffs Knockout Round at Toyota Park. The winner of tonight's game will advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, and will host Sporting Kansas City on Sunday.

The Dynamo (14-9-11; 53 points) are the fifth seed and will face the fourth-seeded Fire (17-11-6; 57 points) for the fourth time this year after three regular season meetings. Two of the three games between Houston and Chicago ended in draws - 1-1 at Chicago on April 15 and 0-0 in Houston on July 3 - before the Fire defeated the Dynamo, 3-1, on Sept. 2. Tonight will be the first-ever playoff game between the clubs.

The Dynamo are 9-5-3 all-time in the playoffs and have advanced to the MLS Cup final three times in six years, including 2011. Midfielder Brad Davis and Brian Ching have both appeared in 16 of Houston's 17 playoff games in club history.

The Fire is 21-15-6 all-time in playoff games and reached the MLS Cup final in 1998, 2000 and 2003. The Fire are led by forwards Chris Rolfe (8 goals) and Patrick Nyarko (34 games, 7 assists) and veteran midfielders Logan Pause and Pavel Pardo.

Houston and Chicago were remarkably similar statistically during the 2012 MLS regular season. Each club allowed 41 goals this season, tied for the second-fewest among Eastern Conference playoff teams, while the Dynamo outscored the Fire 48-46. Houston set franchise records for goals scored (48) and points in a season (53) while winning 14 games, one shy of the franchise record set in 2007.

Tonight's game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. Additionally, the game can be heard on KPRC 950 AM, Sirius XM FC Channel 94 and Baila 1230 AM (Spanish).

If the Dynamo win tonight, they will host Sporting Kansas City on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the first game of a two-leg semifinal series. Tickets for the potential home game, presented by Kroger, are available now at www.HoustonDynamo.com, by calling 713-276-GOAL, or at the BBVA Compass Stadium box office, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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