Field conditions at BBVA Compass Stadium "played a major role" in the play of the Dynamo and Timbers "grinding to a relative halt" on Monday in the first leg of their MLS Western Conference semifinal series, according to Corey Roepken of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. The game ended scoreless, and overuse of the field and "recent cold weather played a part in the field being rough." The field’s "poor shape caused outrage on social media." The condition was "related to the large number of events on the field in the last month," as BBVA Compass Stadium hosted two Texas Southern Univ. football games and nine high school playoff games. The last two of those playoff games "were four days apart." Timbers coach Caleb Porter said, "I know they have challenges with regards to football playing on it, but it's not great in a showcase game like this with two attacking teams to have to play." Dynamo GK Tyler Deric said, “It’s not very good. It’s sandy. It’s rough. The ball bounces up when you’re trying to hit the ball. When you’re trying to control the ball, the ball does weird stuff." Roepken noted if the Dynamo "advance to the next round, they would host a game on Nov. 21." With only two games "scheduled on the field in the three weeks leading up to that date, the Dynamo are confident the field will look significantly better" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/1).
