Everything broke right for the Dynamo over the weekend and after some stress and worry, Houston is in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs! The only thing we don't know is whether they can avoid the wild card round. Events later this week will decide that.
If the Dynamo want to avoid playing a wild card match, they need to defeat the Galaxy at home on Sunday and they need some help. The good part is that since it's the final game of the MLS regular season, Houston will know exactly what they need to do (and if they have a shot at finishing in the top three in the East). To get that chance, the key match is Columbus v Chicago on Saturday. If the Crew win, the Dynamo cannot catch them on points. A draw or a Fire win leaves the door open for Houston to vault Columbus in to third place with a win on Sunday. Simple as that Dynamo fans, this Saturday, you're a Chicago Fire fan.
Want to really get your brain going? If New York defeats Philly (on Thursday), DC defeats Sporting KC and the Fire defeat the Crew, a Dynamo win over LA would give them first place in the Eastern Conference...wild.
Results:
Portland Timbers 0 - 2 Houston Dynamo
Colorado Rapids 0 - 0 Real Salt Lake
Sporting Kansas City 2 - 0 New York Red Bulls
Philadelphia Union 1 - 1 Toronto FC
DC United 1 - 2 Chicago Fire
New England Revolution 0 - 3 Columbus Crew
FC Dallas 2 - 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
Seattle Sounders 2 - 1 San Jose Earthquakes
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 - 1 Chivas USA
Playoff Standings:
| Team | Points (Max Potential Points) | Games Played (of 34) | Points Per Game | GD |
| ss-LAG (W1) | 67 (70) | 33 | 2.03 | 22 |
| x-SEA (W2) | 60 (63) | 33 | 1.82 | 18 |
| x-RSL (W3) | 52 (55) | 33 | 1.58 | 8 |
| x-SKC (E1) | 48 (51) | 33 | 1.45 | 9 |
| x-PHI (E2) | 48 (51) | 33 | 1.45 | 9 |
| x-CREW (E3) | 47 (50) | 33 | 1.42 | 0 |
| x-FCD (WC1) | 52 (55) | 33 | 1.58 | 5 |
| x-COL (WC2) | 46 (49) | 33 | 1.39 | 2 |
| x-HOU (WC3) | 46 (49) | 33 | 1.39 | 2 |
| NYRB (WC4) | 43 (46) | 33 | 1.30 | 5 |
| POR | 40 (46) | 32 | 1.25 | -8 |
| CHI | 40 (43) | 33 | 1.21 | 0 |
| DCU | 38 (44) | 32 | 1.19 | -2 |
| z-CHV | 36 (39) | 33 | 1.09 | 0 |
| z-SJ | 35 (38) | 33 | 1.06 | -7 |
| z-TFC | 32 (35) | 33 | 0.97 | -23 |
| z-VAN | 28 (37) | 33 | 0.85 | -19 |
| z-NE | 27 (31) | 33 | 0.82 | -20 |
ss - Supporter's Shield
x - Clinched Playoff Spot
z- Eliminated from Playoffs
Upcoming Matches:
Home team listed first
Result in parenthesis is best outcome for the Dynamo
Wednesday, October 19th
DC United v Portland (No effect)
Thursday, October 20th
New York v Philadelphia (NYRB win)
Saturday, October 22nd
Toronto FC v New England (No effect)
Vancouver v Colorado (VAN win)
DC United v Sporting KC (DCU win)
Chicago v Columbus (CHI win)
Real Salt Lake v Portland (No effect)
San Jose v FC Dallas (No effect)
Chivas USA v Seattle (No effect)
Sunday, October 23rd
Houston v Los Angeles (HOU win)