There will still be plenty on the line when the Houston Dynamo host the New England Revolution on Wednesday in a late-season interconference match.
The most likely scenarios are that Houston will be on the road for the first round of the playoffs and the Revolution will be eliminated even if they find a way to beat the Dynamo.
The Dynamo (13-9-9, 48 points) have clinched a spot in the postseason and are in sixth place in the West with three matches to play. Houston is just two spots and two points below hosting a first-round playoff series but is also just a point ahead of Vancouver and can’t afford to slip back as the regular season grinds to its end. Only five points separate fourth place from ninth place in the conference.
Houston heads home after a 1-0 loss at Seattle on Saturday that snapped the Dynamo’s five-match unbeaten streak (3-0-2). The setback allowed the Sounders to leapfrog Houston in the standings.
“We are excited about being in the postseason and that’s a big deal,” Houston coach Ben Olsen said. “Our guys have worked really hard all year to get us into this position. We have to regain our focus as we turn the page on a disappointing result in Seattle.”
It’s the first time since 2011-13 that the Dynamo has qualified for the postseason in consecutive years. Ibrahim Aliyu’s six goals lead the team while Amine Bassi has eight assists to pace the Dynamo.
New England (9-17-4, 31 points) is still eligible for a playoff spot in the East but heads to Wednesday’s match in 14th place in the conference, six points behind Philadelphia for the final wild-card spot with four other teams to pass and a match in hand.
The Revolution defeated hapless Nashville 1-0 at home on Saturday on Brandon Bye’s decisive headed goal in the 86th minute. The win snapped a five-match winless skid for the Revolution in which they were outscored 13-4.
New England’s minus-27 goal differential is the worst in the East and second-worst in MLS.
“We talked a lot last week about just having a better mentality, not being quite as emotional, and just being more steady and having ice in our veins a little bit more,” Revolution coach Caleb Porter said. “From here on out, we have to be tough to play against. We are going to keep showing we are fighters, and we are going to be organized.”
Giacomo Vrioni has nine goals to lead New England.
Revolution forward Dylan Borrero will serve a one-game suspension Wednesday in relation to his conduct after receiving two yellow cards against Charlotte FC on Sept. 21. The league said Borrero failed to leave the field in an orderly manner and used abusive and insulting language. He served a yellow-card suspension against Nashville.
The Revolution won the most recent meeting with Houston last year in Foxboro, Mass.
–Field Level Media
