The playoffs pick up steam this week with the beginning of the conference semifinal rounds. For the first time in four years, the Dynamo are still alive at this stage.
They’ll face the No. 1-seeded Portland Timbers in the first of the series’ two legs Monday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. This is the team’s first postseason meeting.
The Timbers outscored the Dynamo, 6-4, in two regular season meetings. They won at home and tied in Houston.
Here are the lineups for both teams:
Dynamo Starting XI (4-3-3)
GK: Tyler Deric; D: DaMarcus Beasley, Philippe Senderos, Adolfo Machado, Jalil Anibaba; M: Juan David Cabezas, Eric Alexander, Tomas Martinez; F: Romell Quioto, Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis
Bench: Joe Willis, Erick Torres, Vicente Sanchez, Andrew Wenger, Ricardo Clark, Alex, Kevin Garcia
Portland Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
GK: Jeff Attinella; D: Alvas Powell, Larrys Mabiala, Liam Ridgewell, Vytas; M: Lawrence Olum, Diego Chara, Dairon Asprilla, Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe; F: Darren Mattocks
Bench: Jake Gleeson, Roy Miller, Zarek Valentin, Amobi Okugo, Victor Aboleda, Jack Barmby, Jeremy Ebobisse
Notes
• The Dynamo are 10-1-2 in home playoff games.