D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo MLS Cup playoffs Eastern Conference Championship – Leg 2 Sunday, 18 November 2012 – 3 p.m. CT RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C. Broadcast Information
Dynamo Media Contacts (@HoustonDynamo.com)
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Lester Gretsch (lgretsch@ 832‐633‐0632) Matt Pedersen (mpedersen@ 832‐794‐8673) Jonathan Kaplan (jkaplan@ 516‐965‐4664)
DYNAMO CARRY TWO-GOAL AGGREGATE LEAD OVER D.C. UNITED TO WASHINGTON The Houston Dynamo carry a 3‐1 aggregate series lead over D.C. United heading into Sunday’s second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship at RFK Stadium. If the Dynamo win, draw or lose by one goal on Sunday, they will advance to the MLS Cup Final for the second consecutive year and fourth time in seven years. In the first leg of the Eastern Conference Championship on Sunday, Houston earned a 3‐1 victory over D.C. to earn a two‐goal edge in the series. This is the first‐ever postseason meeting between the clubs. The two historic franchises have six MLS Cup titles and eight conference titles between them.
Houston vs. D.C. United Houston is 10‐4‐2 all‐time against D.C. United (including Sunday’s 3‐1 win). The Dynamo are 2‐4‐1 all‐time in road games against D.C. United. The clubs met three times in the 2012 regular season and the Dynamo won both home games while United won its only home game in the series. United secured a 3‐2 win at RFK Stadium on April 28 as Will Bruin scored two goals for Houston while Maicon Santos bagged a pair and Dwayne De Rosario tallied the other goal for D.C. United. The Dynamo welcomed United to Houston on May 12 for the inaugural game at BBVA Compass Stadium. The visitors lost center mid Perry Kitchen to injury in the first half before Brad Davis delivered the game‐winner for Houston, a gorgeous, curling strike from 30 yards. The last regular season meeting between these foes came on July 15 as Houston opened a vital three‐ game homestand. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid was issued a red card and the Dynamo were awarded a penalty after Hamid’s rash challenge on Macoumba Kandji. Up a man, the Dynamo rolled to a 4‐0 win behind goals from Davis, Bruin, Boniek Garcia and Brian Ching.
DYNAMO PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP (4‐4‐2, Right‐Left) Tally Hall; Kofi Sarkodie, Bobby Boswell, Andre Hainault, Corey Ashe; Boniek Garcia, Luiz Camargo, Giles Barnes, Brad Davis; Will Bruin, Macoumba Kandji
DYNAMO NOTES
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Dynamo rally for 3‐1 lead in Eastern Conference Championship: The Dynamo scored three unanswered goals in the second half to secure a 3‐1 win over D.C. United in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Championship on Sunday at BBVA Compass Stadium. Behind goals from Andre Hainault, Will Bruin and Kofi Sarkodie, the Dynamo will carry a 3‐1 aggregate series lead into the final leg of the two‐game series on Sunday. The win, in front of a BBVA Compass Stadium record crowd of 22,101, extended Houston’s home unbeaten streak to 30 games in all competitions. The Dynamo are now 8‐1‐0 all‐time in home playoff games, outscoring opponents 18‐6. It was Bruin’s fourth goal this postseason to set a franchise record for goals in a single postseason. It also extended Bruin’s franchise record for goals in a season to 16. The Dynamo are now 12‐6‐3 all‐time in the playoffs (counting 2006 MLS Cup final penalty kick victory as a tie).