Post-match: Leg 1: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - 10/30/11

Art Vandaley · Oct 24, 2011

Please use this thread for pre-game articles and discussion of players, tactics, field conditions, officiating, crowds, etc.

What/When

Houston Dynamo travel to Chester Pennsylvania to face the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park on Sunday, October 30th, at 4:00 pm CDT.

TV/Video

This game will be available on ESPN2 and DEP.

Radio/Audio

In Spanish: La Ranchera 850 AM. They do not stream online.

In English: I am not sure right now, will try and update

Traveling Fans

If you are going to be attending the game, there is a discussion in this thread concerning travel, tickets and tailgating.

Playoff Beards

Grow a Beard.

Watch Party

Orange Bar will host a watch party for all Dynamo supporters. Bar will be open at noon for the Texans game so come on out early. 1613 Richmond Ave (map)

Free burgers at half-time.

Please RSVP here.

The Game

This the first round of the MLS playoffs. This season there is a play-in round as well that does not directly affect the Dynamo. This will mark the return to post season action for Houston after missing last year. This marks Philadelphia's first foray into the playoffs. The Dynamo finished the season with 49 points and the Union with 48 points.

The Dynamo and Union have met twice this season. In the season opener, a 5th minute goal propelled the Union to a 1-0 win at Robertson stadium. Tally Hall had approximately 47 saves. IIRC the sky was falling. Highlights. In early August, a late Geoff Cameron goal salvaged a point in Chester, this point essentially gave Houston the home field advantage in this 2 leg playoff match. Highlights

The Union feature a roster of impressive names, there is a French guy, a couple of guys who used to be the future of US Soccer, and some other dudes. Honestly, I missed our last game against them because it was on my wedding day and can barely remember the opener. I think I saw them play a half of soccer against someone once.

In our last outing the Dynamo avoided the play-in game with a 3-1 win over a short-handed LA Galaxy. In the Dynamo's last 5 games, they have 4 wins and a tie. In the Union's last outing they dropped a 1-0 decision at RBNY, if they had won, the Dynamo would be hosting the first leg of their playoff series. In Philadelphia's last 5 games they have 2 wins, 2 ties and a loss.

No Trolling. No Flaming.

This is not a rivalries thread or forum. If you want to go that route, then post in the MLS Fans Rivalries forum -- don't bring it here. If you see trolling posts - don't reply to them. Instead, ignore the poster and just report the post and we'll get rid of it and deal with the troll appropriately.

PLEASE do not go to the Union board and post anything. If you can't help yourself, use common sense.

Television Key

FSC - FOX Soccer Channel

FSE - FOX Sports en Español

MLSL - MLS TV

DK - Direct Kick

TVI - TV Informa 43

TF - TeleFutura

ESPN2 - duh

DEP - ESPN Deportes

11.2 - KHOU 11.2

FSH - Fox Sports Houston

anderson · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

They beat Seattle 2 - 0 on the road earlier this month. That's a quality win. But they've also had some less impressive results against less impressive teams (as do we).

Here's their October set of results:

10/02 Chivas USA 1 - 1 Philadelphia The Home Depot Center

10/08 Seattle 0 - 2 Philadelphia CenturyLink Field

10/15 Final Philadelphia 1 - 1 Toronto FC PPL Park

10/20 Final New York 1 - 0 Philadelphia Red Bull Arena

Le Toux is obviously having a great season, with 11 goals and 9 assists. Mwanga has 5 goals.

dustcowpoke · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

anderson said: ↑

They beat Seattle 2 - 0 on the road earlier this month. That's a quality win. But they've also had some less impressive results against less impressive teams (as do we).

Here's their October set of results:

10/02 Chivas USA 1 - 1 Philadelphia The Home Depot Center

10/08 Seattle 0 - 2 Philadelphia CenturyLink Field

10/15 Final Philadelphia 1 - 1 Toronto FC PPL Park

10/20 Final New York 1 - 0 Philadelphia Red Bull Arena

Le Toux is obviously having a great season, with 11 goals and 9 assists. Mwanga has 5 goals.
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They have a few impressive players, as well as a few that are inconsistent but when they do show up at their full potential they do really well (Adu, Mapp, etc.)

Hungryjack · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

If history is any guide, the Dynamo will not do well on the first leg in Philly.

newtex · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Hungryjack said: ↑

If history is any guide, the Dynamo will not do well on the first leg in Philly.
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We might actually prefer it that way.

2006 - lost first leg, won MLS Cup
2007 - lost first leg, won MLS Cup
2008 - tied first leg, eliminated at home in the 2nd leg
2009 - tied first leg, advanced to Conference final, lost in OT

AcetheTigah · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Philadelphia is a good team and Nowark (is he responsible) has asembled good talent such as:

The forward line
Mwanga - fast unpredcitable athletic attacker who has scored on Houston before (will he start?)
LeToux - classy silky Frencman who just finishes well and brings others in with beutiful passing

The midfield
Mapp and Adu - they have the technical skill to create special palys but haven't shown consistently for 90 minutes yet. Although Adu is demonstrating the work ethic necessary for midfield since his recent arrival
Farfan - one of the Farfan brothers with great skill maybe still a little young

The bacl line
Califf - just a rock with great experience / smarts
Sheanon Williams - young fast athletic defender who can overlap up
Farfan - the other Older? Farfan brother who looks to be slightly better and the best outside back to overlap fast and skilled
Carlos Valdes - tall fast athletic just a beast extremely difficult to beat beast player on the back line

GK
Mondragon
Columbian nat team veteran is big in goal and very difficult to beat. He helped recruit the 3-4 other columbians on the team

The Union's strength is their defense and their ability to finish their few chances they get every game. They will exert high pressure early to try and force a turnover in the offensive third of the field (watch PU's last goal agaianst us). Their strategy is to score first and then lock it down (similar to LA). With 36 goals allowed - only LA has conceded fewer goals in the league

The Dynamo need to show the same defensive effort they employed at Portland to be successful. I think they are capable of this.

The real question is - can the Dynamo generate the offense they showed against Real Salt Lake back in August and last night against LA to win this series?

Dre00 · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Tactically, this isn't going to be a very pretty game.

The_Ponce · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Dre00 said: ↑

Tactically, this isn't going to be a very pretty game.
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I would not be shocked if it ends 2-1 after both legs.

newtex · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Dynamo all-time @ Philly:

10/02/10 PHI 1-1 HOU
08/06/11 PHI 1-1 HOU

2 goals scored and 2 allowed.

All-time in the playoffs (W-L-T):

HOU 6-4-3 +4
PHI 0-0-0 +0

The Frenchman · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

newtex said: ↑

Dynamo all-time @ Philly:

10/02/10 PHI 1-1 HOU
08/06/11 PHI 1-1 HOU

2 goals scored and 2 allowed.

All-time in the playoffs (W-L-T):

HOU 6-4-3 +4
PHI 0-0-0 +0
Click to expand...

We have playoff experience, they don't. That is a big key for this matchup.

metroag · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

I would not be surprised if this thing is one 1-0 on aggregate. This is going to be an ugly series.

TX Bill · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

The Frenchman said: ↑

We have playoff experience, they don't. That is a big key for this matchup.
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I agree with that.

Also, I think they'll come at us guns a blazin and we'll be under the cosh for the first 10 to 15 minutes. If we can weather the storm without letting any goals in, then I could see us nicking a result.

But again, that's if we can hold them off early...

madmatt621 · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Just did a FIFA 12 Sim for HOU @ PHI (but with just 6 minute halves).

0-0. Philly held shot-less with Houston getting 2 shots; just one (Costly's) was on target.

Soccergodlss · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

madmatt621 said: ↑

Just did a FIFA 12 Sim for HOU @ PHI (but with just 6 minute halves).

0-0. Philly held shot-less with Houston getting 2 shots; just one (Costly's) was on target.
Click to expand...

just as I am expecting really.

madmatt621 · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

The Frenchman said: ↑

We have playoff experience, they don't. That is a big key for this matchup.
Click to expand...

How many players on each potential starting lineup have playoff experience?

DonJuego · Oct 24, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

1 - 0 for the home side is a solid road result for the first leg.

You've only truely had a bad first leg if your down by 2 going home to your house.

CeltTexan · Oct 25, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Can the game get here please!

anderson · Oct 25, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Here's a piece in today's Philadelphia Inquirer about the game. It also includes a video with Faryd Mondragon previewing the game.

Union's playoff game time against Houston to be determined by Galaxy opponent

Game time will either be 4 or 5 p.m. [ET - that's 3 or 4 pm CT], an MLS official said Monday. The second game in the Union's semifinal series is set for Nov. 3 at 8:30 p.m. [7:30 pm CT] in Houston.

If the Los Angeles Galaxy face the Colorado Rapids in the Western Conference semifinal, Sunday's Union game will start at 4 [3 pm CT]. If the Galaxy play the New York Red Bulls or Columbus Crew, game time for the Union will be 5 p.m. [4 pm CT]
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anderson · Oct 26, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

More pre-gamery from Philly:

Mondragon, Union set for playoffs

"He's a great goalkeeper, a great leader, and really seems to have the respect of his teammates," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said Tuesday in a phone interview. "He has a great feel for the game and putting his teammates in the right position."
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freshpow21 · Oct 26, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

After seeing the player highlights leading in to the NY-PHI game I wanted to throw up when I saw a LeToux goal celebration mimicking the AT&T flash mob commercial.

Really, bro????

If we can control Mwanga and this LePoof guy here I think we can end up with a result similar to the Portland game.

I'm calling 2-0 Dynamo. Carr with a rebound put back and Cameron with a header. Davis with at least 1 assist.

txsn · Oct 26, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Apparently there is an email going around titled
"Thursday Night: Wild Card Match in Houston"

We qualified for the MLS Playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons! My teammates and I would like to invite you out to our Wild Card Playoff match this Thursday night at Robertson Stadium.
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its from 'Brian Ching.'

Come on FO.. you should know better. Plus it's not THIS Thursday.

CeltTexan · Oct 26, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Really?!?
That's pretty bad amigos.
If fact than our FO needs help. Big time!

Levy2k6 · Oct 26, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

yeah i got the same email and im like... smh.

rice @ UH this thursday at the Rob

DonJuego · Oct 26, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

Levy2k6 said: ↑

yeah i got the same email and im like... smh.

rice @ UH this thursday at the Rob
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Can someone post that full email, including the "FROM" part?

el nordissimo · Oct 26, 2011

Re: Houston Dynamo @ Philadelphia Union - Leg 1 - 10/30/11 3:00pm

DonJuego said: ↑

Can someone post that full email, including the "FROM" part?
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