How Houston Dynamo can advance to MLS Cup Final

SEATTLE – The Houston Dynamo have their backs against the wall against the Seattle Sounders in leg 2 of the MLS Western Conference Championship.

The Dynamo play the Sounders at 9:30 p.m. CT Thursday in Seattle.

After a 2-0 loss in the first leg in Houston, the Dynamo will need to have a dominant road game in order to advance to the MLS Cup Final.

The MLS playoffs use the aggregate scores of both legs to determine who advances. In other words, the team who scores the most goals over the two games moves on.

The Dynamo are already trailing 2-0 in the aggregate score, so they will need to score at least 2 goals in order to have a chance to advance. 

If they lose or tie, then the season is over. 

The first tiebreaker is away goals. So if the Dynamo win 3-0 or 3-1, or 4-0 or 4-1 or 4-2, and so on, then they advance.

If the Dynamo win 2-0, then both teams have the same amount of away goals. That means the team would play extra time to determine who advances to the Cup Final.

Below is a graphic from MLSSoccer.com to help explain the outcomes.

The winner will travel to play Toronto FC in the MLS Cup Final Dec. 9.