Decision Day clash in Portland to determine Dynamo’s playoff seeding: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo head to Portland for a Decision Day clash with the Timbers, looking to improve their seeding for the MLS Cup Playoffs. Houston knows they’re already into the postseason, but a win would give the Dynamo home-field advantage for the best-of-three first round series. The Dynamo beat Portland 5-0 earlier this season, leading to the firing of longtime Timbers head coach Gio Savarese. Portland has rebounded under interim boss Miles Joseph and are looking to win and get themselves into the playoffs.
When: Saturday, October 21 | 8:09 PM CT kickoff
Where: Providence Park; Portland, Oregon
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: ESPN 97.5 FM (English), TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Spanish)
From two to six
Depending on tonight’s result, the Dynamo could finish anywhere from second to sixth place in the Western Conference. We broke down all the possible scenarios here. A win in Portland would guarantee a top four finish and could push the Dynamo higher depending on what Seattle and LAFC do. It won’t be easy; the Dynamo last won a regular season match in Portland in 2011. Houston did win 2-1 in Portland in the 2017 playoffs, cue the Mauro Manotas photo.
Getting better
Getting into the playoffs and being in fourth place in the Western Conference going into the final day of the regular season is already a big accomplishment for the Dynamo. They certainly are not content with just being where they are now and know there is more to come. “It's wonderful to see how far we came,” head coach Ben Olsen said. “Don't get me wrong, there's more ahead. That's the message right now. We've shown that this particular group can play with the best teams in this league. Now we think about what’s next, can we turn it up and get better? It starts this weekend with our mentality and how we try to maximize the position that we've created for ourselves. Trying to stay in fourth place or even move up. That is something we have to focus on.”
Different Timbers
The 5-0 beating the Dynamo gave Portland in the summer at Shell Energy Stadium seemed to wake up the Timbers. They fired their manager and have lost just twice in the nine matches since. Portland can complete their turnaround and qualify for the playoffs with a win tonight, and Olsen knows that urgency from the opposition is a great test for his team. “This game is helpful in many ways because of the chance of a dry run for a playoff match,” Olsen said this week. “You see their desperation and the intensity (Portland) will bring since they have everything on the line. That's great for us. We get to see what we can do against a hungry team.”
Houston Dynamo – Out: Ifunanyachi Achara (knee), Tate Schmitt (knee)
Portland Timbers – Out: David Ayala (knee), Jaroslaw Niezgoda (knee), Eryk Williamson (knee), Tega Ikoba (international duty)
Predicted Lineup
