Sunday, November 11, 2012

Dynamo In MLS Eastern Conference Finals

While I'm waiting for the Texans to play Da Bears later tonight, I'll be rooting for our other football team that wears the orange jerseys, kicks a round ball around the soccer pitch and is trying to get to the MLS Cup final for the second consecutive year.

They knocked off Sporting Kansas City in their MLS Eastern Conference semifinal two leg playoff matchup by beating SKC 2-1 at BBVA Compass stadium last Sunday and then withstanding a furious SKC assault on their goal in the return leg match on Wednesday.  

SKC won the game in their park 1-0, but the Dynamo won the playoff series with a cumulative 2-1 score. 

That earned them a Eastern Conference finals matchup against one of the more storied teams in MLS in DC United, who have won four MLS cups but are in their playoffs for the first time in five seasons.   They are also on a little bit of a roll in terms of going 6-0-3 in their last nine matches and knocking off the New York Red Bulls in their semifinal series.  . 

But DC United faces a Dynamo squad that has been unbeatable at BBVA Compass Stadium (12-0-6) and has one of the best goalkeepers in MLS in Tally Hall.   DC United is also playing this game without goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who received a red card in the second leg against New York and the suspended for this series Andy Najar.

The Men In Orange also want a return trip to MLS Cup and if they win this series will face either the defending champion LA Galaxy or the Seattle Sounders.  

The league changed the format this year so that the team with the best record would host the MLS Cup game, and unfortunately should the Dynamo win, they would have to travel to either LA or Seattle in the attempt to win their third MLS title.

Either way, the Dynamo won't care where they have to go as long as they have the opportunity to win the MLS Cup       

No comments: