The Seattle Sounders are taking on the Houston Dynamo in a two-leg Western Conference Championship in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs with a spot in MLS Cup on the line. Here is everything you need to know.
WHEN AND WHERE: The first leg will kick off on Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m. PT at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas. The return leg will take place on Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
WHERE TO WATCH: The first leg will be televised on FS1 and FOX Deportes. The second leg will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
WHERE TO LISTEN: Both legs will air on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360 AM.
FINAL 2017 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 14-9-11 (53 points, 2nd West), Dynamo: 13-10-11 (50 points, 4th West).
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Seattle: Bye in the Knockout Round, def. Vancouver 2-0 on aggregate in the Western Conference Semifinals. Houston: def. Sporting Kansas City 1-0 in the Knockout Round, def. Portland 2-1 on aggregate in the Western Conference Semifinals.
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 6-4-6 all time against the Dynamo. Seattle is 0-4-4 all time in Houston and 6-0-2 at home.
RECENT RESULTS: The Sounders and Dynamo split the points in two matches during the regular season. Houston won the season-opener 2-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium before the Sounders won 1-0 at CenturyLink Field on June 4.
ALL-TIME PLAYOFF RESULTS: The Sounders and Dynamo have only met once in the postseason. Houston defeated Seattle 1-0 on aggregate in 2009 behind a Brian Ching goal in extra time in the second leg at Robertson Stadium.
RETURN OF THE BEAR: Former Houston Dynamo forward Will Bruin is ready to knock out his former club to get back to MLS Cup. He scored the game-winner for Seattle when the two teams met at CenturyLink Field back in June.
DEMPSEY DAGGER: Clint Dempsey’s brace lifted Seattle past Vancouver and into the Western Conference Championship, and after being named the 2017 MLS Comeback Player of the Year, Dempsey has his eyes set on an MLS Cup championship.
HEALTHY BODIES: The long layoff in between the conference semifinals and finals has allowed a beat-up Sounders side extra time to recover and get healthy, a luxury they’ve relished. Captain Osvaldo Alonso, Jordan Morris and VÃctor RodrÃguez all continue to progress, and Gustav Svensson already overcame his hamstring injury to help Sweden qualify for the World Cup.
COUNTER COUNTER: The Dynamo love to play a counterattacking style, but like they were against Vancouver, the Sounders are ready for it.
FORMER TEAMMATES CLASH: Dempsey and former Fulham teammate Philippe Senderos will square off after Houston signed the Swiss international in early August.
FORMER SOUNDERS CLASH: Former Sounders Dylan Remick and Jalil Anibaba will line up for Houston against their former club. Remick, who won MLS Cup 2016 with Seattle last year, was the unlikely hero for Houston last round when his goal at Providence Park in Portland proved to be the series-winner.
NO REST FOR THE WEARY: Three key Dynamo players in Alberth Elis, Romell Quioto and Boniek Garcia suited up for Honduras during the FIFA international break in their home-and-home intercontinental World Cup Qualifying Playoff against Australia. The Socceroos knocked out Los Catrachos 3-1 on aggregate to qualify for Russia 2018.
DOWN DERIC: Major League Soccer suspended Houston starting goalkeeper Tyler Deric on Nov. 1 in between the two legs of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Portland Timbers following his arrest for misdemeanor assault in connection with an alleged domestic incident. Joe Willis started and earned the road win in Portland, but he played in just eight matches this season and only once since May 20.
