The Dynamo visit Dick’s Sporting Goods Park tonight for their final regular season game of 2012. It will not be their final game however since they booked a trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs with last week’s home win against the Philadelphia Union. The Dynamo also gained qualification to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, drawing 1-1 with Olimpia to win their group.
Houston heads to Colorado with a chance to improve their playoff seeding, or not. The “not” comes from the fact that their game is late and depending on other results the playoff seed may be settled already. Depending on results from New York vs Philadelphia and DC United vs Chicago the Dynamo’s fate for the postseason may already be decided. If the Dynamo game ends up having no playoff implications I expect a team full of reserves to take on the Rapids. If New York loses and the DC-Chicago game goes well for the Orange, Dom Kinnear will have his best guys out there.
The Dynamo want to avoid the “wild card” game at all costs. If Chicago and New York win this will be where the Dynamo go. If they do have to play that game they desperately want to play it at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo have not won on the road this season against any of the Eastern Conference playoff teams. They also have not lost a game all season at BBVA, becoming just the fourth team in MLS history to finish a regular season unbeaten at home. There may not be a team in MLS that home field advantage would have a bigger effect on.
The weather could be an issue for tonight’s game as Colorado has been blanketed in snow this past week. Whatever comes today, whether the Dynamo field a squad of reserves in a game that means nothing, or they take on the Rapids with a shot to avoid the “wild card” game, enjoy the soccer today. Enjoy the playoffs as well Houston. It’s time to Dream, Scream, Believe.
(image courtesy of Nigel Brooks)
