2017 MLS Playoffs, Houston Dynamo vs Seattle Sounders Final Score: Sounders Dominate Leg 1 of Western Conference Championship

Things didn’t exactly go as planned at BBVA Compass Stadium on Tuesday night in front of a record breaking sellout crowd as the Houston Dynamo hosted leg 1 of the Western Conference Championship against the Seattle Sounders. Fans hoping to see a dominating Dynamo performance were left disappointed after the team failed to score while giving up two goals to Seattle.

Alberth Elis had a great chance in front of goal in the first minute of the game. Elis got a head on a corner kick but his header went over the bar. The miss would be an indicator of what was to come on the night for the Dynamo.

Seattle jumped out to an early lead after scoring off a corner kick. Gustav Sevensson got a head on the corner kick from Nico Lodeiro. The header went right past Dynamo goal keeper Joe Willis to give Seattle the 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.

Joevin Jones was brought down by Jalil Anibaba in the box to deny him a goal scoring opportunity. Seattle was awarded a penalty kick and Anibaba was shown a red card to put Houston down to 10-men. Willis dove correctly on the kick from Lodeiro to prevent the Seattle from doubling the score in the 28th minute.

It was former Dynamo forward Will Bruin who doubled the scored in the 42nd minute. Bruin was on the receiving end of a cross from Jones, going up to head the ball towards the back of the net to make it 2-0.

Mauro Manotas came close to getting Houston on the scoreboard as the second half got underway. In the 51st minute, Manotas worked his way into the box, nutmegging Roman Torres. Unfortunately, the shot from Manotas went wide of the net.

The Dynamo spent much of the second half pushing to get a goal but their shots were not there. They managed just nine shots total with only three shots on target. They gave up the majority of possession to Seattle and were unable to find the net when they did get the ball.

Elis was issued a yellow card in the 29th minute of the game which thanks to yellow card accumulation means that he will also be suspended. Roman Torres earned a yellow card towards the end of the game which also puts him out next week for Seattle.

The 2-0 victory for Seattle means that Houston’s faces a tougher test in leg 2. Seattle will host leg 2 at CenturyLink Field on November 30. The winner on aggregate will go on to face either Toronto FC or the Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup.

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