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Last week’s draw at Sporting Kansas City helped the Houston Dynamo clinch a playoff position for the first time since 2013. While it may be tempting to overlook the last game of the regular season against the Chicago Fire this Sunday, the Dynamo will be focused on getting three points to help them reach a higher seed. With a help of some other results they might get a home field advantage in the knockout stage. Chicago has its own motivations though as they’ll be battling for a positive result which would help them lock up 2nd place in the Eastern Conference ensuring a bye week in the playoffs.
Dynamo Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera was fortunate enough to get a win in Houston midweek against SKC with many players away with their national teams before getting them back for the away game at Children’s Mercy Park later that weekend. Cabrera put most of them right back into the starting lineup since he knew the stakes were high and I’d anticipate a very similar lineup against the Fire.
Romell Quioto came off the bench last week, but I would think that he gets the start Sunday over Alex Lima. I would predict Cubo Torres and Albert Elis also getting the start.
In the midfield Juan David Cabezas rejoined the starting lineup against SKC and his defensive partnership with Ricardo Clark will be key against the potent offense of the Fire. Next to them, it would be hard to not start Tomas Martinez given his form lately. This does keep Alex on the bench, but him, along with Vicente Sanchez, could be the difference in a close match down the stretch.
Along the back line I’d anticipate our usual starting four of DaMarcus Beasley at LB, Leonardo and Adolfo Machado at CB, and A. J. DeLaGarza at RB with Tyler Deric in goal.
My Projected Starting Lineup
Defender George Malki is listed as OUT on the injury report along with Memo Rodriguez and Philippe Senderos is listed as QUESTIONABLE which leaves plenty of options for Cabrera to choose from.
So who do you want to see lineup against the Fire? Let us know and feel free to share your choices in the comments section below!