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MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo to Face Montreal Impact Thursday Night in MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round

October 30, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON (Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013) - The Houston Dynamo will host the Montreal Impact in the MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Knockout Round on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are available at www.HoustonDynamo.com, by calling 713-276-GOAL, or by visiting the BBVA Compass Stadium box office (2200 Texas St., Houston) from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Tomorrow's Knockout Round, presented by BBVA Compass, is a single-game playoff. If Houston defeats the Impact, it will host the New York Red Bulls in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2:30 p.m. CT at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Prior to the game, the Dynamo will host a Halloween trick-or-treat and costume contest (more details below) at BBVA Compass Stadium. Children can trick-or-treat throughout the suites and sponsor locations inside the stadium from 6-6:45 p.m. All fans must have a game ticket to enter the stadium and trick-or-treat.

Tomorrow's game will be broadcast live on CSN Houston (7 p.m. pregame) and the NBC Sports Network. The game can be heard on La Ranchera 850 AM (Spanish).

This is Houston's third straight appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs and the seventh in eight seasons since the inaugural campaign in 2006. The Dynamo have a 12-7-4 all-time record in the playoffs and their postseason win percentage (.609) is the third-best in MLS history.

The Dynamo will try to maintain their history of home playoff success on Thursday. Houston is 8-1-0 all-time in home playoff games, a winning percentage of .889, the best in MLS history. Houston has outscored opponents 18-6 in home playoff games.

Last season, the Dynamo began their trek to the MLS Cup Final with a 2-1 Knockout Round road victory over the Chicago Fire. Houston then defeated Sporting Kansas City, 2-1 on aggregate, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals before dispatching D.C. United, 4-2 on aggregate, in the Eastern Conference Championship to reach its fourth MLS Cup Final in seven seasons.

Midfielder Brad Davis has appeared in 22 of Houston's 23 playoff games in franchise history, starting 21. Forward Will Bruin set a franchise record with four goals in the 2012 playoffs, including two goals in the Knockout Round win at Chicago.

Thursday's game is the fourth meeting this season between Houston and Montreal. After the Impact won each of the first two games at Stade Saputo, Houston defeated Montreal 1-0 on Oct. 4 behind a goal from Ricardo Clark. The home team has never lost in the all-time series, with the Dynamo 2-0-1 and the Impact 3-0-0 in home games.

The Impact is in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time after entering the league before the 2012 season. Montreal is led by Italian forward Marco Di Vaio, who finished third in the Major League Soccer with 20 goals this season. Di Vaio is the 11th player in MLS history to score 20 or more goals in a season.

The Impact also features Canadian international midfielder Patrice Bernier (4 goals and club-high 8 assists) and midfielders Justin Mapp (8 assists this season; 57 assists in 275 career MLS games), Davy Arnaud (48 goals and 43 assists in 297 career MLS games) and Felipe Martins (5 goals and 8 assists).

Thursday's pregame Halloween Festivities will include a costume contest for all ages at the Budweiser Stage at SoccerFest/Orange Avenue (Walker St and Hutchins St.) outside BBVA Compass Stadium. The top two children finalists (male and female) will be selected at 6 p.m.; top two adult finalists (male and female) will be selected at 7 p.m. The winner in each category will be chosen at halftime by the fans.

All fans are welcome to wear costumes, but should following these guidelines: * No weapons of any kind (real or fake) are permitted inside BBVA Compass Stadium. * Masks are allowed, but must be removed while entering BBVA Compass Stadium. Fans may then wear masks after entering the stadium. For complete information about the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs, including ticket information and Dynamo playoff history, visit www.HoustonDynamo.com/Playoffs.

Group tickets for Dynamo home playoff games may be purchased by calling 713-276-GOAL.

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