The Houston Dynamo closed out the 2017 regular season in style with a convincing 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire in front of 20,456 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, along with Sporting Kansas City’s loss at Real Salt Lake, the Dynamo secured a home game against Sporting in the Knockout Round of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs on Thursday, October 26, at 8:30 p.m. in a match presented by BBVA Compass.
Tickets for the match are on sale now, starting at $28, at HoustonDynamo.com/Playoffs, by phone at 713-276-GOAL and at the BBVA Compass Stadium box office.
The Dynamo struck quickly, as defender Leonardo headed home a long throw-in from fellow centerback Adolfo Machado 82 seconds into the match. The goal was Leonardo’s second of the year and the fourth of his career, and it was Houston’s fifth goal of the year inside of five minutes.
Forward Romell Quioto put the home side up 2-0 with his seventh goal of the season following a long solo run down the left flank in which he outraced the Chicago back line and slotted a left-footed shot under Chicago goalkeeper Richard Sánchez in the 68th minute on what proved to be his final touch of the day, as he was substituted out following the goal.
In the 75th minute, Colombian forward Mauro Manotas notched his 10th goal of the season when he redirected a cross from forward Andrew Wenger into the back of the net. It marked the first time in club history that the Dynamo have had three double-digit scorers, as Manotas joined Erick Torres (14) and Alberth Elis (10).
The Dynamo were dealt a blow just a few minutes into the contest when defender A.J. DeLaGarza, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time with the club, went down clutching his left knee. DeLaGarza was substituted for in the 13th minute, passing the armband to goalkeeper Tyler Deric and giving way to defender Jalil Anibaba.
Deric registered his second consecutive clean sheet and his sixth of the season, recording four saves in the effort including a pair of big saves late in the second half. With the win, Deric leveled his record as a starter at 27-27-24 and tied a career high with his 10th victory of the season.
Houston Dynamo (13-10-11, 50 pts.) 3-0 Chicago Fire (16-11-7; 55 pts.)
MLS Week 34
Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017 – BBVA Compass Stadium – Houston, Texas
Attendance: 20,456
SCORING SUMMARY:
HOU: Leonardo 2 (Adolfo Machado 2) 2
HOU: Romell Quioto 7 (Leonardo 1) 68
HOU: Mauro Manotas 10 (Andrew Wenger 2) 75
LINEUPS:
Houston Dynamo: Tyler Deric; A.J. DeLaGarza © (Jalil Anibaba 13), Adolfo Machado, Leonardo, Dylan Remick; Juan David Cabezas (Vicente Sánchez 79), Eric Alexander, Alex; Romell Quioto (Alberth Elis 69), Mauro Manotas, Andrew Wenger
Unused Substitutes: Joe Willis, Ricardo Clark, Tomás MartÃnez, Erick Torres
Total shots: 11 (Andrew Wenger and Romell Quioto tied with 3); Shots on goal: 5 (Leonardo, Romell Quioto, Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis and Vicente Sanchez tied with 1); Fouls: 9 (Juan Cabezas 3); Offside: 0 (N/A); Corner kicks: 4 (Alex 2); Saves: 4 (Tyler Deric 4)
Chicago Fire: Richard Sánchez; Matt Polster (Joao Meira 66), Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Brandon Vincent; Arturo Alvarez, Dax McCarty © (Brandt Bronico 73), Djordje Mihailovic; Luis Solignac, Nemanja Nicolic, David Accam (Juninho 71)
Unused Substitutes: Matt Lampson, David Arshakyan, Patrick Doody, Michael Harrington
Total shots: 12 (Nemanja Nikolic 5); Shots on goal: 4 (Brandon Vincent, Arturo Alvarez, David Accam and Nemanja Nikolic tied with 1); Fouls: 6 (Brandon Vicent 2); Offside: 4 (Luis Solignac 2); Corner kicks: 5 (Arturo Alvarez 3); Saves: 2 (Richard Sanchez 2)
DISCIPLINE:
N/A
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Nelson
Assistant Referee 2: Eric Weisbrod
4th Official: Ted Unkel
VAR: Nima Saghafi
