The 2012 MLS playoffs began on Thursday as the Chicago Fire hosted Houston Dynamo in a knockout tie at Toyota Park.
Houston shrugged off a poor away record to race into a two-goal lead against the Fire thanks to a brace from Will Bruin.
Chicago rallied late on and reduced the deficit when Alex scored eight minutes from time. Houston hung on in the closing stages to advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals for the third consecutive season.
Good morning all. Thanks for joining us here at Sports Mole and welcome to live coverage of Major League Soccer's post-season extravaganza.
We are just under 20 minutes away from kickoff at Toyota Park as reigning Eastern Conference champions Houston Dynamo prepare to face the Chicago Fire in what promises to be an intense knockout tie.
The Fire earned home advantage tonight by virtue of a superior regular season record, finishing four points ahead of Houston in the East.
Dyanmo enter this contest on the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Colorado Rapids last weekend. An improved performance is imperative under the pressure of post-season play.
Let's take a look at tonight's starting lineups as the teams finish their pre-match preparations.
Johnson, Anibaba, Friedrich, Berry, Segares, Fernandez, Pause , Pardo, Nyarko, Rolfe, MacDonald
Hall, Sarkodie, Boswell, Taylor, Ashe, Garcia, Clark, Moffat, Davis, Bruin, Carr
The only major surprise is Chicago's decision to name Patrick Nyarko ahead of Corben Bone on the wing.
Houston have opted for the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation which has served them well in important matches, with Will Bruin partnering Calen Carr in attack.
We are minutes away from kickoff now at Toyota Park, two former champions facing off with a place in the Eastern Conference final four at steak.
Chicago will be relying on top scorer Chris Rolfe to guide them to victory.
Rolfe scored eight goals in the regular season, flourishing in his second spell with the Fire.
The Fire have a settled team and have opted to name the same side that started the 1-1 draw with DC United just three days ago.
Kickoff is slightly later than expected over at Toyota Park. Expect the playoffs to get underway shortly!
The play-off format has been given a welcome tweak this season to allow East and West to stay apart until the final in December. The winner of tonight's match will face a two-legged tie against Sporting Kansas City.
German international defender Arne Friedrich is without doubt an integral part of the Fire's playoff plans. Keeping the veteran fit is key to their hopes of an extended post-season run.
Friedrich is fit to start for Chicago tonight in their first home match in the playoffs since 2009.
Houston have a miserable recent record against the Fire, failing to beat tonight's opponents for the last two seasons.
Chicago endured an alarming dip in form during the second half of the regular season, slipping to fourth place in the Eastern Conference despite a strong start.
Major League Soccer's attitude towards punctuality continues to frustrate me into the post-season. A 1.00am kickoff UK time has slipped back by at least 30 minutes. Toyota Park is fashionably late to begin play-off proceedings.
Sports Mole will be your destination for every game in the MLS from here on in as the search hots up to crown a 2012 MLS Cupchampion.
Ah, looks like kickoff is finally here, both teams are out on the pitch. It's playoff time football fans. Might sound a little strange, don't fight it. Excitement guaranteed.
Just a reminder that tonight is a straight knockout tie, no second chances.
Both sides opt for a pre-match huddle and better late than never we are good to go.
Toyota Park is far from full but the atmosphere still sounds impressive.
We are underway, Houston kickoff in their unmistakable Orange strip.
A horrendous pass from Brad Davis hands possession to Patrick Nyarko in a dangerous possession but the pacy winger is unable to take advantage.
Houston have definitely reverted to a 4-4-2 formation in order to combat Chicago's width and stop their supply to star striker Chris Rolfe.
The first foul of the match hands the visitors a set-piece opportunity. Davis crosses and Sean Johnson flaps at the ball before clearing at the second time of asking.
Johnson is in trouble again, only parrying an effort from distance. Will Bruin chased in but a last-ditch tackle stopped a certain goal.
Houston continue to exert early pressure but their spell of possession is interrupted by a foul from Ricardo Clark.
Jalil Anibaba finds some space out wide for Chicago, cutting inside before curling an effort wide of the far post.
Chicago are back in the ascendancy. Alvaro Fernandez jinks is way into the area but can only tap a tame effort into the hands of Tally Hall.
Corner for Houston, Will Bruin heads home unmarked for the opening goal. All too easy
A perfect delivery from Brad Davis found Bruin with time and space in the six-yard box and he makes no mistake with a simple header.
I think we're going to try and take some of the credit for that opening goal after picking Bruin as our image prior to kickoff. A coincidence, I don't think so.
Chicago need to bounce back quickly from that disappointing start. A normally watertight home defence breached in the opening 15 minutes.
A replay of that opening goal clearly shows Bruins marker slipped as he tried to match the forward's run. Cruel luck on Anibaba and the Fire.
Chicago defender Arne Freidrich finds himself in space in the penalty area but his firm header is at a good height for Hall who makes the easy save.
Houston enjoy a nice spell of possession in central midfield but Ricardo Clark can't pick out the run of Colin Clark in the final third.
Chicago break quickly and find Patrick Nyarko in acres of space out wide. His teasing cross drifts across the six-yard box but is turned behind by Hall for a corner.
Houston clear the corner quickly and launch an attack of their own. Clark runs more than 30 yards with the ball but shoots harmlessly wide from distance.
Dynamo get the back on the ball quickly and have a corner. Davis whips in another dangerous cross but this time Johnson punches away to safety with minimal fuss.
Sherjill McDonald tries to pick out Nyarko in the box but misses narrowly with an inviting through ball.
Just a reminder that tonight's match must be played to a finish tonight. Extra time and penalties will be used if required.
Bruin is found in space for Houston but his first touch is heavy, allowing Freidrich to make a vital interception.
Chicago are struggling to get their creative players time on the ball in a congested midfield.
The home crowd protest loudly as a throw goes Houston's way. Referee Baldomero Toledo is having none of it.
Brad Davis dummies perfectly found Anibaba to force an easy foul. Dangerous free-kick chance here for Houston.
Calen Carr lurks at the back post but can't make the most of another strong delivery. Houston are in the driving seat, much to the annoyance of the home crowd.
Nyarko drives at Jermaine Taylor and wins a free-kick for Chicago just yards outside of the penalty area. Big chance here for the Fire to level.
Rolfe recovers a poor-set piece to put the ball back into danger. Houston clear but only for a corner.
Another disappointing delivery ruins a spell of Chicago pressure as Houston clear easily. Chance missed for the home side.
McDonald moved further forward and controls the ball deep into the penalty area but his layoff can't find Rolfe. Much more encouraging for Chicago before the break.
Houston threaten again on the break as Boniek Garcia uses his pace to win a corner after running the full length of the pitch before being challenged.
A chance goes begging for Houston as they get another free header from a corner whipped in by Davis. This time Bobby Boswell is the guilty party as he fires over from close range.
Houston keep the ball brilliantly deep in the opposition half before a burst of pace from Corey Ashe finds him space out wide. He curls in a cross which is turned behind for another Dynamo corner.
Into stoppage time at the end of the first half, just one minute to be added on as Houston continue to dominate possession.
The first half comes to a close with Houston meriting their one-goal advantage. Chicago need to find a dramatic improvement after the break to keep their season alive.
Chicago have shot themselves in the foot throughout the first 45 minutes with poor defending from set pieces.
Houston profited from slack marking to score the opening goal after 12 minutes when Will Bruin turned home a superb delivery from Brad Davis.
Was this another example of zonal marking failing miserably I hear you ask? Afraid not, very much a man-to-man problem in the Chicago defence. Basic errors that will infuriate Fire coach Frank Klopas.
A quick news item from the MLS playoffs as we wait for the second half. New York Red Bulls have been forced to switch their first-leg match against DC United later this week following the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
The Red Bulls will now visit DC in the first leg before moving back to New York for the return game next week.
While we pause for breath at Toyota Park why not catch up with a night of drama from the Capital One Cup.
Chelsea and Manchester United did their best to top Arsenal's incredible match against Reading when they met at Stamford Bridge earlier tonight. The Blues eventually prevailed in extra time by a surreal scoreline of five goals to four.
Read the full match report from Stamford Bridge by clicking here
Back to action from Toyota Park and we are moments away from starting the second half. A reminder that Houston Dynamo lead by a single goal from Will Bruin.
Chicago get the second half underway.
The Fire fall asleep in possession and Houston take fall advantage. Ricardo Clark wins possession in midfield and passes to Calen Carr. He slips in Will Bruin, who finishes cooly for his second of the night. A crazy start to the second half.
Chicago try to respond quickly but can't make the most of a corner kick.
Ricardo Clark has stayed down after clearing the corner. An awkward landing for the tenacious midfielder who requires treatment.
Toyota Park is absolutely stunned to see their trail by a two-goal deficit. A huge ask now for Chicago to keep their season alive.
Alvaro Fernandez crosses for Patrick Nyarko but he is off balance and connects poorly from close range. Chance missed for Chicago
Nyarko finds space and cuts back for Alex, who lashes wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Another chance in quick succession for the Fire. Nyarko picks up the ball again but a great sliding challenge from Kofi Sarkodie averts danger.
Sherjill MacDonald tries to race onto a long pass but his pace is not enough to meet the ball.
Nyarko begins another slalom run into Houston territory before being brought down by Sarkodie.
Fire can't create a chance from the free kick at the second time of asking but Arne Freidrich's shot is well saved by Hall.
Dominic Oduro replaces Pavel Pardo as the Fire revert to a two-man attack to try and get back into the match with 30 minutes remaining.
Oduro nearly has an instant impact, racing into the penalty area before being stopped in his tracks by the committed Sarkodie.
Houston continue to frustrate Chicago in the final third with some spirited defending. Oduro's pace in behind has definitely given the Fire a more direct outlet in this second half.
Alex picks up the ball in central midfield but he is quickly crowded out by a swarm of Houston defenders. They win the ball and play in Calen Carr, who fires wide from close range.
Carr is in behind again just a minute later. He drives into the area before forcing a good save from Sean Johnson from an acute angle.
It's Houston on the attack again but Bruin slips in the area just as he seems destined to complete his hat trick.
Chicago break and come close to reducing the deficit. Tally Hall misses a cross but MacDonald's shot is stopped from going into an empty net by a last-ditch block from Dynamo.
End-to-end stuff in the closing stages as Houston go back on the offensive with an effort from Boniek Garcia before Chicago respond to force Hall into a smart save.
Alex has struggled to get on the ball all night for Chicago as he is brought down by Bruin for a free kick. More frustration for Chicago.
A last throw of the dice for Chicago as the send on Daniel Paladini.
Dynamo make two changes to their attacking options in an effort to freshen things up. Bruin and Carr are replaced by Brian Ching and Macoumba Kandji.
Kandji nearly has an impact. He races into the penalty area unmarked but can only lash the ball at Johnson from close range.
Chicago ensure a grandstand finish with a well-worked goal. Freidrich knocks the ball over the top to Alex, who gets in behind before fishing neatly. Game On!
The home side nearly repeat the trick with their next attack as MacDonald tries to bring down a long ball. Hall comes out quickly to quell the danger.
Austin Berry throws to Fernandez near the corner flag but the tricky winger is unable to cross into the area. Time running out for the Fire.
Rolfe dinks the ball over a tired Houston defence but once again MacDonald is unable to take advantage.
Nyarko races down the touchline but loses control before bundling into Sarkodie to force an injury stoppage.
Aduro does brilliantly to pick out Alex in space on the edge of the area but a horrible miscue sees the chance go begging.
Tally Hall is booked for wasting time as the fourth official signals four minutes of stoppage time.
Rolfe crosses deep into the Houston penalty area but Dynamo clear into touch and eventually regain possession.
Nyarko finds MacDonald but his flick on fails to find Berry in the penalty area. Seconds left on the clock at Toyota Park.
Aduro drives down the wing and forces a foul from Brad Davis. Last chance and the keeper is coming forward.
Paladini takes but his cross is cleared to safety. Rolfe recovers the situation but his shot floats harmlessly wide.
Hall takes the goal kick and with that the match is over. Houston overcome a poor away record to advance to an Eastern Conference semi-final against Sporting Kansas City.
Chicago rallied in the closing stages but in truth it came too late. Houston controlled possession for much of the match and were good value for their 2-1 victory.
Will Bruin did the damage for Dynamo, scoring a clinical brace to move the Orange Crush into the last eight in the post-season.
Houston will now host Kansas City in the first of a two-legged tie on Sunday.
Thanks for joining us here at Sports Mole as the MLS playoffs began with a flourish. Be sure to check in for regular updates throughout November as the race hots up to crown the 2012 MLS Cup champion.
