There are 10 games left for the Houston Dynamo in the MLS regular season – a nice, round number that means it’s as good a time as any to start taking a look around the league every week to look at the games that impact the standings as the club looks to return to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Heading into this weekend’s matches, the Dynamo are in a three-way tie for first place in the Western Conference but claim the top spot via tiebreakers. As a reminder, the top six teams in each conference reach the playoffs, and the top two seeds get byes into the conference semifinals while seeds three through six play in a one match knockout round. Onto the games!
Friday, Aug. 18
Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls (9 p.m. | FS1)
As a rule, root for the Eastern Conference team to win in interconference matchups. The Timbers are currently fifth in the West, three points back from the first-place pack (with one more game played). A loss obviously keeps them there, and also allows the Dynamo the opportunity to put more separation between them and the teams near the red line with a result in their match. A draw wouldn’t be so bad either.
Saturday, Aug. 19
Montreal Impact vs. Real Salt Lake (6:30 p.m. | MLS LIVE)
Another interconference matchup: Montreal are the favorites here at home. RSL is in eighth place, three points below the red line. They enter riding a six-game unbeaten streak however, which has lifted them off the bottom of the table and into playoff contention. A result for them would help keep those dreams alive.
Sporting Kansas City vs. FC Dallas (7:30 p.m. | MLS LIVE)
These are the tough decisions that come around in the playoff chase. For starters, it’s Kansas City and Dallas. Nobody wants either of these teams to succeed. Luckily for Dynamo fans, a draw would suit everyone just fine. SKC is one of the teams tied on 37 points with the Dynamo, but FCD is just two points behind and has played two less games. A draw doesn’t allow either team to jump too far ahead, and with the Dynamo playing both in Frisco and at home against Sporting next week (8 p.m. | TICKETS), gives Houston an opportunity to push past both rather than trying to make up ground in those games.
Colorado Rapids vs. D.C. United (8 p.m. | MLS LIVE)
This one doesn’t have too much bearing on the playoff race – both teams are in the bottom two of their respective conferences. Colorado will be playing their first match without Pablo Mastroeni, who was let go as head coach earlier this week. They face a 10-point gap between themselves and the red line.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Houston Dynamo (9 p.m. | KUBE 57, MLS LIVE)
Root for a Dynamo win.
A win – on the road, no less – would help solidify the Dynamo’s place as a team to beat in the Western Conference going into a tough week against fellow contenders at the top of the table. A draw would also be a positive result in this scenario, while a loss would shrink the margin of error for the Dynamo – Vancouver is just outside the playoffs in seventh place but sits on 31 points, six points back of the leaders.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Philadelphia Union (9:30 p.m. | MLS LIVE)
Another interconference match: root for Philly on the road. The Dynamo’s win over San Jose last weekend was big for both teams, as it helped solidify Houston’s place in the standings while it kept the Quakes teetering on the edge. San Jose sits on 32 points in the sixth and final playoff spot – a loss would keep the red line separating playoff teams from non-playoffs from creeping up on the Dynamo.
Sunday, Aug. 20
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Minnesota United FC (8:30 p.m. | FS1)
The Sounders are at home and facing the last-place team in the Western Conference. Come on, you Loons. A win or even a draw here from Minnesota United would be a huge boon to the Dynamo in the race to the top of the West. Houston and Seattle are not only tied on points (37) but also the first tiebreaker, wins (10). The Dynamo are currently ahead on the second tiebreaker, goal differential (+10 vs. +6).
