It seemed so fitting. So perfect, even. The Philadelphia Union were seeking their first ever playoff match victory and playoff series victory in the same place where they took their first-ever road victory, and opened their second season with a victory: Robertson Stadium in Houston. But it was not to be. An improbable season for the Union ended predictably with a set-piece goal against and not enough offense for.

After a somewhat promising first 45 minutes, if only for the fact that the Union hadn't conceded anything, Brad Davis and Brian Ching teamed up in likely the last kick in first half stoppage time on a Houston freekick. Two experts combining to take advantage of arguably the Union's biggest weakness, and give the Dynamo a backbreaking 3-1 lead in the aggregate that they would not relinquish. But let's spare the details of this match. You know what happened. Rubbing salt in these fresh wounds does no one any good. There are plenty of questions to be asked about Piotr Nowak's strategies for this match, and they'll undoubtedly be repeated for the next five months.

It's not exactly all bad, though.

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The scenario tonight is simple. If the Union lose or draw, they are eliminated.  If the Union win by 1 goal, we will have extra time.  If the Union win by 2 goals, they will advance to the Eastern Conference Final this Sunday at Kansas City.  Eastern Conference Semifinal. Leg 2. Kickoff at Robertson Stadium is scheduled for 8:30 PM ET.

If you have not already, be sure to check out the following preview from The Brotherly Game: [Ben's Match Preview]. Houston perspective: [Dynamo Theory]

Broadcast Information:  ESPN2 and ESPN3.com (Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman), ESPN Deportes (Richard Mendez, Giovanni Savarese) and ESPN Deportes Radio (Jorge Ramos, Hernan Pereyra) nationwide, with coverage beginning at 8:30 PM Eastern / SportsTalk 790 KBME-AM (Jonathan Yardley) and La Ranchera 850 KEYH-AM (Daniel Mejia, Alex Parra) in Houston / TSN2 nationwide in Canada (ESPN2 feed)

Philadelphia Union starting XI:  Mondragon; G. Farfan, Califf, Valdes, Williams; M. Farfan, Carroll, Paunovic, Le Toux; Mwanga, McInerney

Philadelphia Union bench:  MacMath, Mapp, Adu, Torres, Miglioranzi, Nakazawa, Okugo

Houston Dynamo starting XI:  Hall; Hainault, Boswell, Cameron, Ashe; Cruz, Moffat, Camargo, Davis; Ching, Carr

Houston Dynamo bench:  Deric, Taylor, Watson, Freeman, Costly, Bruin, Dixon

Our staff will give live comments and reactions throughout the game, as well. Go Union! DOOP!

Setting: Thursday, November 2 at Robertson Stadium in Houston; kickoff scheduled for 8:45:00 PM Eastern

Broadcast Information: ESPN2, ESPN3.com, ESPN Deportes (Richard Mendez, Giovanni Savarese) and ESPN Deportes Radio (Jorge Ramos, Hernan Pereyra) nationwide, with coverage beginning at 8:30 PM Eastern / SportsTalk 790 KBME-AM (Jonathan Yardley) and La Ranchera 850 KEYH-AM (Daniel Mejia, Alex Parra) in Houston / TSN2 nationwide in Canada (ESPN2 feed)

Series Information: Houston leads the series 2-1 on aggregate

For the Houston Perspective, Visit Dynamo Theory

After what can only be described as a disappointing performance from the Philadelphia Union in their playoff opener, with plenty of blame to go around to both players and coaches, anything less than a gutsy performance in this series concluder will see Philadelphia's season end the same place it started: Robertson Stadium in Houston. If, come full time tomorrow night, the Union are tied or trailing to Houston, it will be the Dynamo who advance to the Eastern Conference final. With a one goal advantage, Philadelphia can force extra time and perhaps even penalty kicks to decide the series. Should the Union manage to take tomorrow night's match by two or more goals, it will remarkably be them moving on. The odds are undoubtedly against them, but it's not necessarily an impossible task.

Yes, it's true that the Union have won both matches they have played in Houston in their two-year history by a goal apiece. But that's far from a telling statistic. What may play more to Philadelphia's advantage (or disadvantage) is that team manager Piotr Nowak will be all but forced to play his best offensive lineup, even if it means losing some defensive prowess in the process. The Union have nothing to lose at this point; they're already in a hole. There's no difference now between giving up two goals in your best attempt to score three, and giving up no goals in an attempt to hold the opposition and maybe pop in one yourself. You're eliminated either way. So the Union will, tactically, go right at Houston from first kick.

There is no reason for Roger Torres and Freddy Adu to not start. There's no reason not to go all out late in the match and move to three in the back if you have to. Even before a potential desperation situation, these changes probably mean that the Union backline will have another very busy night, and Gabriel Farfan in particular will need to have a bounce back performance. The availability of Veljko Paunovic, who one has to expect will start, has apparently recovered enough from a hamstring strain to play, will help the flow of the Union's offense. Truth be told, in the two matches the Union have played in his absence (at New York and vs. Houston), the team hasn't looked the same, and Paunovic's return might be what gives Union fans the most hope heading into tomorrow night.

Projected starters, up-to-date injury reports and assorted match notes after the jump...

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The scene was perfect on a brisk evening along the Delaware. PPL Park was ready. The 18,500 local fans and 25 or so Houston Dynamo fans that filled the seats and all the various nooks and crannies of the facility were ready. A national television audience was ready. The Houston Dynamo were ready. The Philadelphia Union, however, were not. From the opening kick, it was clear that Houston had traveled to Chester seeking not just a draw, but a victory. A mere five minutes in, Andre Hainault's header converted a perfect Brad Davis free kick to give the visitors the lead and leave Philadelphia fans silenced.

The Union would respond less than two minutes later, as Michael Farfan crossed a ball right into Sebastien Le Toux's run into the box, and the Frenchman did not miss, slotting the ball straight ahead into a narrow crevice between the goalpost and a diving Tally Hall. But ultimately, that seventh minute equalizer did little to change the momentum of the match. Houston continued to take the bulk of the possession and, frequently exposing Philadelphia left-back Gabriel Farfan, retook the lead in the 30th minute as Brian Ching sent a perfect ball straight behind the Union defense to the top of the box, where Calen Carr collected, put on the jets and cooly finished in on a 1-on-1 with Faryd Mondragon.

Both teams would have numerous high-quality chances throughout the rest of a highly physical first half, but Houston retained its possession game, and thereby retained its lead. By full time, six different players had received yellow cards -- four Union players (Gabriel Farfan, Stefani Miglioranzi, Sheanon Williams, Brian Carroll) and two Dynamo players (Danny Cruz, Adam Moffat).

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Two years ago this time, the Philadelphia Union had never stepped on a soccer field before.  Today, they are in the MLS Cup Playoffs against an opponent they have never lost to in four games.  Of course, the teams are different now so past results at this stage mean very little, but Union fans have every right to be excited right now.  Not only are the Union in the playoffs, but we belong here.  Eastern Conference Semifinal.  Leg 1.  Kickoff at PPL Park is scheduled for 5:00 PM ET.

If you have not already, be sure to check out the following preview from The Brotherly Game and SB Nation Philly staff: [Ben's Match Preview] [Jason B.'s Preview For SB Nation Philly] [mk_27's Statistical Comparison] [Scott's Conversation With Phil Quinn On Faryd Mondragon For SB Nation Philly] [Scott Has A Conversation With The Enemy]. Houston perspective: [Dynamo Theory]

Broadcast Information:  ESPN2 and ESPN3.com (Rob Stone, Taylor Twellman), ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes Radio nationwide, with coverage beginning at 5:00 PM Eastern

Houston Dynamo starting XI:  Hall; Hainault, Boswell, Cameron, Ashe; Cruz, Moffat, Camargo, Davis; Ching, Carr

Houston Dynamo bench:  Deric, Taylor, Watson, Costly, Bruin, Freeman, Clark

Philadelphia Union starting XI:  Mondragon; Williams, Califf, Valdes, G. Farfan; M. Farfan, Carroll, Miglioranzi, Mapp; Le Toux, Mwanga

Philadelphia Union bench:  MacMath, Torres, Adu, Nakazawa, Okugo, McInerney, Langley

Feel free to use this as your thread for New York Red Bulls-Los Angeles Galaxy and Colorado Rapids-Sporting Kansas City as well.  Our staff will give live comments and reactions throughout the game, as well. Go Union! DOOP!

Zach Woosley of Dynamo Theory, SB Nation's Houston Dynamo blog, and I chatted ahead of today's Union-Dynamo game at PPL Park.

Scott: The regular season series is 2-0-2 in favor of the Union, with both wins for the Union away in Houston. Do you see the pattern continuing with another draw in Philadelphia, or do you think it will be an offensive display that will result in a high scoring result for either side?

Zach: I'm fairly confident the Dynamo will be playing for a draw, they'd never admit it of course, but they'll be perfectly happy to grind out a boring result and head back to Houston. The weather could change everything though of course and I know Philly will attack, so the Dynamo will probably sit pack and soak up pressure and look to counter. If they have their way, there won't be an offensive display.

Scott: A lot of people are thinking that Nowak will take a very offensive approach anhope to be able to sit back a bit in Houston in or to progress.

Zach: Given the Union have a speed advantage it would make sense since that advantage will do them more good at PPL than Robertson.

Scott: Though maybe not in this weather.

Zach: What's the current forecast for tomorrow?

Scott: Tomorrow is going to be a sunny 40 something, then incredibly cold at night.

Zach: Lovely. That should help the Dyanmo's plan. Any concern about the Union's youth at key positions and lack of playoff experience, or will the veterans help balance that out?

Scott: There's a nice core of veterans that play around the rookies/youth players on the team. Brian Carroll is one of the winning-est players in MLS history, Faryd Mondragon played in Europe with Galatasaray, Danny Califf was part of multiple playoff teams in his first stint in MLS and Sebastien Le Toux has been around soccer for a long time now. Plus there's Stefani Miglioranzi, Justin Mapp and Veljko Paunovic to bring knowledge and big game experience to the team.

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Setting: Sunday, October 30 at PPL Park in Chester; kickoff scheduled for 5:15 PM Eastern

Broadcast Information: ESPN2 and ESPN3.com (Rob Stone, Taylor Twellman), ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes Radio nationwide, with coverage beginning at 5:00 PM Eastern

Houston's Regular Season Record: 12-9-13, second in East

Houston's Last Match: W, 3-1 vs. LA

Philadelphia vs. Houston This Season: 1-0-1 (Philadelphia 1 @ Houston 0 on March 19, in the teams' regular season opener; Houston 1 @ Philadelphia 1 on August 6)

For the Houston Perspective, Visit Dynamo Theory

It's hard to put the feelings that are going through the minds of Philadelphia Union fans right now into words. This team, that didn't exist two years ago, is just hours away from competing in its league's playoffs. The difference from year one to year two has been night and day, and this despite the already-young team becoming even younger. It's not just the illusion of youth, either. In other words, it's not just the bench that's gotten younger -- it's the starters, too -- which makes the team's ascent to the playoffs even more remarkable. But we'll have plenty of time to opine on this regular season throughout the winter; for the moment, the current challenge that lies ahead is the Houston Dynamo in the form of a two match home-and-away series.

These two teams met in their regular season openers, and both teams have grown rather dramatically from that Saturday night at Robertson Stadium. But one thing that remains clear is that these are two very similar teams. When they're at their best, their preferred style of play may not be the prettiest in the league. It may not involve the flashiest goal scoring, or for that matter very much goal scoring at all. It's effective, though, and they will clog you up and shut you down. Philadelphia's defense has been the best in the East, and Houston's ranks as number three. And it's carried these two clubs into the upper-echelon of their Eastern Conference.

But that doesn't mean that these teams are fully devoid from offense. The Union's Sebastien Le Toux has had an absolutely dominant second half of the season, and one can't help but get the feeling that while they've yet to get Freddy Adu to fully click into the lineup, if and when they do, he will be amongst the most dangerous in the league. Danny Mwanga, a Rookie of the Year candidate from a year ago, is back from injury, and don't forget about Roger Torres and, increasingly, Michael Farfan. Veljko Paunovic, whose importance to the team's offense has grown exponentially since joining the team in mid-June, is likely to be kept out due to a right hamstring strain, which is troubling, but the Union have plenty of skill on their roster to make up for his absence. The Dynamo are still led by Brian Ching, but the key challenge for Philadelphia is that Houston has been able to consistently spread the bulk of its scoring to several players. Seven Dynamo players have scored four or more goals. The Union have three players that fall into that category. But the one player to watch for on the Dynamo is Brad Davis. He's one of Houston's seven four-or-more goal scorers with four on the season, but he also has 16 assists. That is not a typo. He leads the league in assists, and if you combine his goals and assists, he's directly contributed to 21 of Houston's 45 goals. In other words, if you can keep Davis to the outside and bottle him up, you've just cut off about half of Houston's offense. It's far from that easy, of course, but that has to be objective #1 from the Union.

Projected starters, up-to-date injury reports and assorted notes after the jump...

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The New York Red Bulls upset FC Dallas last night in Texas, giving them a home playoff game against the Los Angeles Galaxy on October 30. While the scoreline shows some of the quality play that the Red Bulls had during the game, but it doesn't speak to what's scary about a New York side with some confidence behind itself.

• No Luke Rodgers? No Problem: For only the second time all year, New York won a game in which Rodgers did not start. Dane Richards played in an advanced forward role for the second straight week and it seemed to help former French international and Arsenal star Thierry Henry to move freely through the Dallas defense for most of the second half. Henry would later finish off Dallas with some amazing ball control and a bit of good luck in the final seconds of the game.
• Mehdi Ballouchy: The Savior: The much maligned Moroccan playmaker finally turned out a good performance for the Red Bulls, and it came during the team's most important run of play in  the game. Ballouchy received the ball on the right side of the Dallas 18, then whipped a low cross toward the middle of the six with his left foot that found the onrushing Joel Lindpere. The Estonian scored the eventual game winning goal.
• Brek Shea's Tired Legs: Plenty has been said on this subject already, but it's pretty obvious. 

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