Leg 1 of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinal between Houston Dynamo and Portland Timbers ended in a 0-0 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium last Monday. The teams will match up again on Sunday evening (4:30pm PT, FS1) for the decisive second leg. Below is a grid showing the scoreline that each team needs to advance to the Western Conference Championship.
How to read the grid: if the match on Sunday night is tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time, Houston will advance to the Western Conference Championship on away goals (see below for more information on the away goals rule).
Houston vs Portland matchup notes:
- Last match at Providence Park: March 18. Portland won 4-2.
- The Timbers are 4-1-1 all-time at home against the Dynamo.
- The Timbers ended the regular season on a six-match home winning streak, scoring 16 goals while allowing only three. The six-match home win streak is the longest active streak of any of the remaining eight playoff teams. With a combined 23 wins over the last two regular seasons, the Timbers have the most home victories in MLS since the start of the 2016 season.
The away goals rule: The away goals rule is a tie-breaking method that is used to determine the winner of a two-legged series, such as the MLS Conference Semifinals and Conference Championships. If two teams are tied on aggregate at the end of regulation time of the second leg, the away goals rule is applied as the first tiebreaker. The winner is the team with the most goals scored away from home.
