HOUSTON (Nov. 1, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC continue their Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs campaign on Sunday, Nov. 3, hosting Seattle Sounders FC in a win-or-go-home Game 2 for Houston in the Round One Best-of-3 Series. Kickoff is for 5:30 p.m. CT at Shell Energy Stadium, and fans can purchase tickets to cheer the Dynamo on to a decisive Game 3 via SeatGeek HERE for as low as $25. Fans will also receive playoff rally towels, presented by Shell Energy, upon entry to the stadium.
Additionally, Houston Mayor John Whitmire officially declared Friday, Nov. 1, “Dynamo Day” ahead Sunday’s match during this week’s city council meeting. The proclamation recognizes the achievement of the Dynamo making consecutive playoff appearances and encourages fans to wear Dynamo gear around the city to support the team and show their H-Town pride
In Game 1 on Monday, the Dynamo and Sounders played to a scoreless draw in regulation in Seattle, with the hosts winning the ensuing penalty shootout 5-4. Despite playing a majority of the second half with 10 men after midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla was shown a red card, Houston still managed to secure their 10th clean sheet of the year. Notably, goalkeeper Steve Clark is set to earn his 20th postseason appearance on Sunday.
If Houston finds victory in Game 2 on Sunday, the Dynamo will travel back to Seattle to take on the Sounders at Lumen Field in Game 3 on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
Due to his red card during Game 1, Carrasquilla will miss Sunday’s match with a one game suspension.
The Dynamo boast an impressive 12-2-4 (WLD) all-time record in home playoff matches. Game 2 will mark Houston’s first postseason match at Shell Energy Stadium since last year’s 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City in the Western Conference Semifinals when defender Franco Escobar scored the decisive goal.
This series marks the third postseason meeting between Houston and Seattle, in which the Sounders now hold a 2-1-2 (WLD) individual match record over the Dynamo. The first matchup came in the 2009 Western Conference Semifinals where the Dynamo defeated the Sounders 1-0 over two legs, with the victory coming in Houston thanks to an extra-time winner from renowned forward Brian Ching. The two sides met twice in the regular season this year, with the Dynamo earning a 2-2 home draw in June, before falling 1-0 on the road last month.
The Dynamo finished the regular season as the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, earning a 15-10-9 (WLD) record and 54 points. Houston secured their 10th overall playoff appearance, while securing a single-season Club record for points (54) and road wins (8). Houston earned consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 2013.
Houston also boasted one of the best defensive records this season, allowing just 39 goals, which was the third fewest across MLS. Houston also led MLS with 59.2 percent possession across the season, which allowed the Dynamo to control matches and dictate pace of play.
The Sounders finished the regular season as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, earning a 16-9-9 (WLD) record and 57 points. Albert Rusnak and Jordan Morris were key contributors throughout the season, combining for 23 goals and 21 assists. The Sounders have qualified for the postseason in 15 of 16 seasons in MLS, winning four Western Conference Championships (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) and two MLS Cups (2016, 2019).
The Dynamo have a former Sounders player on their roster in defender Brad Smith, who won the 2019 MLS Cup with Seattle after starting his MLS career there in 2018 on loan from Liverpool. Houston signed the Australian international in January 2023, and he has recorded 37 appearances (four starts), three goals and four assists since joining the Club. Overall, Smith has scored six goals and tallied 16 assists across 116 appearances (67 starts) in his MLS career.
The Round One Best-of-3 Series includes the top seven teams from each conference, as well as the two Wild Card Match winners. All 16 teams participating in the Round One Best-of-3 Series earn at least one home game in the series, with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and Game 3 (if necessary), while the lower seed hosts Game 2.
The Dynamo recently launched their “Grind 2 Shine” playoff campaign, inspired by the team’s relentless push to win another MLS Cup, to celebrate Houston’s first consecutive postseason appearance since 2013.
