The Houston Dynamo finished the season with an emphatic win over the Chicago Fire, beginning with a second minute goal from Leonardo. The result, combined with Real Salt Lake’s 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City, moves the Dynamo up to fourth place in the Western Conference.
Here are three things we learned:
1. The Dynamo will host in the knockout round
What was already decided coming into Decision Day was that the Dynamo would begin the playoffs with a midweek game in the Knockout Round. What was yet to be decided was the venue.
The Dynamo had to get a win and some help in order to put themselves in position to host the Knockout Round as the third or fourth seed in the West. Real Salt Lake’s 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City was exactly what the Dynamo needed to happen.
Now, the Dynamo can begin their playoff run without the added rigors of traveling on short rest, on a field they know like the back of their hand and a place where they have been practically untouchable with a 12-1-4 record this season. Not to mention, it’s a great reward for a city that hasn’t seen playoff soccer in over three years.
2. Letting the bats loose
Just like the Houston Astros bats produced the best attack in baseball, down the block at BBVA Compass Stadium resides one of the best attacking teams in Major League Soccer. With 57 goals among them, 43 of those scored at home, the Dynamo are enjoying their most productive offense in club history.
Last year, six goals was good enough for the team lead. This season, four players have surpassed that mark and three of them are in double digits.
The Dynamo are not lacking in the goal department and that, along with a solid defense complementing their attack, makes them one of the more dangerous teams in the league. Now they just need to score where it matters – in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
3. Enjoying the best form of the year
With Sunday’s result, the Dynamo are now unbeaten in their last six matches. That is the best current streak by a Western Conference team to close the regular season and it matches the Dynamo's best run of the year.
From a personal standpoint, virtually every player on this roster is enjoying their best form in a Dynamo jersey. From Tyler Deric being a force in goal to the forwards having fun scoring up top, this is a team that is running on all cylinders.
Peaking at this point in the season is exactly what the team wants to as they enter the postseason. Now that the team has finished their 34-game marathon, the sprint to the finish begins.
