THE BASICS

Houston Dynamo vs. Chicago Fire

Saturday, July 27, 8:00 p.m. CT

BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, TX

BROADCAST INFORMATION

NBC Sports Network - 8:00 p.m. CHANNEL LISTINGS

Yahoo! Sports Radio 1560 AM - 8:00 p.m. (7:30 p.m. pregame)

La Ranchera 850 AM - 8:00 p.m. (7:30 p.m. pregame)

PREVIEW

The Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire meet in a key contest in the Eastern Conference when the clubs clash for the second time this season, Saturday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo return to action still holding onto fifth place in the East, following their 2-1 win at New England two weeks ago. The Fire are currently five points out of a playoff spot, continuing their move up the table last weekend with a 4-1 home win against D.C. United.

REFEREES

Ricardo Salazar. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Brian Dunn; 4th: Edvin Jurisevic MLS Career: 172 games; FC/gm: 26.9; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 50; pens: 59

INJURY REPORT, PRESENTED BY THE METHODIST HOSPITAL SYSTEM

HOUSTON DYNAMO -- OUT: Calen Carr – left knee; Brian Ching – left adductor strain; QUESTIONABLE: Anthony Arena – right ankle sprain; Omar Cummings – right adductor strain

CHICAGO FIRE -- QUESTIONABLE: Dilly Duka – right groin strain; Steven Kinney – right quad strain

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL-TIME (16 meetings): Dynamo 7 wins, 24 goals ... Fire 4 wins, 20 goals ... Ties 5

AT HOUSTON (8 meetings): Dynamo 4 wins, 12 goals ... Fire 2 wins, 10 goals ... Ties 2

FUTURE MATCH: 9/1: Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo, 4 p.m. CT (UniMas)

The teams are meeting for the second time this season. A late Brad Davis goal snapped a 1-1 tie to give the Dynamo the victory, April 14 at BBVA Compass Stadium.

In league play, the Dynamo last won in Bridgeview in 2009. The Fire won at Robertson Stadium in 2006 and 2007 in their first two trips ever to Houston – and have not won there since.

The teams also met a year ago in the Knockout Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Dynamo taking a 2-1 victory at Toyota Park on their way to an eventual appearance in MLS Cup 2012.

Coaches record: Dominic Kinnear v CHI: P21 W8 L6 D7 ... Frank Klopas vs. HOU: P5 W1 L1 D3

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HOUSTON DYNAMO

The Houston Dynamo return to action after a weekend off following a second consecutive victory, a 2-1 defeat of the New England Revolution on July 13 at Gillette Stadium. The Dynamo are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 29 points from 18 matches.

LAST MATCH

The Dynamo took the lead four minutes into the second half. Andrew Driver sent a corner kick into the mixer, where it was headed away by Revolution striker Chad Barrett. But the clearance fell to Adam Moffat, who immediately volleyed past the dive of New England goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth from well outside the area.

The Revs wasted no time filing their response when Diego Fagundez raced into the box and drove a low cross into the area. The ball was only parried by Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall, right to the feet of Saer Sene, and he pushed home the point-blank effort in the 55th minute.

The game-winner came in the 80th minute, again on a stunning long-range strike from Moffat. From all of 25 yards, he fired a shot that smacked the post before it deflected off Shuttleworth’s back and into the net.

The Revolution finished the game a man down after Dimitry Imbongo was sent off in the 82nd minute.

Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made two changes to the team that defeated Philadelphia Union 1-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Kofi Sarkodie came into the back four for Warren Creavalle, and Cam Weaver started up top in place of Omar Cummings.

HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-4-2): Tally Hall - Kofi Sarkodie, Eric Brunner, Bobby Boswell, Jermaine Taylor - Boniek Garcia, Ricardo Clark, Adam Moffat, Andrew Driver - Giles Barnes (Warren Creavalle 92+), Cam Weaver (Brian Ching 90).

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