The Seattle Sounders know that they will be facing the Houston Dynamos in the Western Conference Finals. The Dynamos defeated the Portland Timbers 2-1 at Providence Field last Sunday. The Conference Championship is a two-match, aggregate-goal series. The Dynamos will host game one on Tuesday, November 21 ( 7:00 p.m. PT) at BBVA Compass Stadium with the Sounders hosting the game two at CenturyLink Field on Thursday, November 30th ( 7:30 p.m. PT)
The two teams have played each other twice this season with Seattle losing 2-0 in Houston on March 4th and splitting the season series with a 1-0 win in Seattle on June 4th. Seattle is winless in Houston in its last eight games ( 0-4-4 ) but boasts a more favorable record ( 6-0-2)when playing in Seattle.
The two teams have just under two weeks before they begin the playoff series due to the FIFA mandated break. The break means some players will be representing their countries in World Cup Qualifies or friendlies. The Sounders will be missing, Gustav Svensson, Nicolás Lodeiro, Nouhou and Román Torres for the next several practices as each player will be representing his country in matches. Those players not called up for international duty will have plenty of work to do at the Sounders practice facility in Tukwila according to Sounders head coach Brian Sschmetzer
“It’s challenging, but each guy has a personal plan,” Schmetzer said after practice this week. “It’s a work week. They get paid, they will do the work.”
