2012 MLS Standings: Dynamo qualify for playoffs, finish in fifth

The 2012 MLS playoff picture has been wrapped up, and the Houston Dynamo are going to participate in postseason soccer.

Houston lost its final regular season contest, 2-0, to the Colorado Rapids. Houston, consequently, finishes in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, winning the fifth and final playoff spot.

Sporting Kansas City leads the Eastern Conference with 63 points. D.C. United is in second with 58 points, while the New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire both have 57 points.

In the Western Conference, the San Jose Earthquakes have clinched the top seed and the Supporters Shield, which is awarded to the team with the top regular season record. Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC, the LA Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps round out the top five in the Western Conference, and represent the five Western Conference playoff teams.

Houston will take on the Chicago Fire in the MLS playoffs on Wednesday at Toyota Park.

2012 MLS Standings: Dynamo clinch playoff spot with win over Union

The penultimate week of Major League Soccer play finished up the playoff picture, and the Houston Dynamo earned the final spot in the East during the push.

Houston went into the weekend needing to win over Philadelphia to control their destiny, and they earned a 3-1 victory over the Union at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Columbus Crew couldn't hold on against DC United, losing 3-2, and the Dynamo were guaranteed a playoff berth with Columbus sitting four points out.

The Dynamo can finish anywhere from fifth to third in the playoff chase depending on how the final week goes. They sit one point behind the New York Red Bulls and three behind the Chicago Fire. If both of those teams lose and the Dynamo win in the final weekend of the regular season, Houston could push above both of them to sit behind Sporting Kansas City and D.C. United.

At the very least, we know that the Dynamo will get a shot to defend their 2011 Eastern Conference title this season.

2012 MLS Standings: Houston Dynamo still holding onto 5th place

The Houston Dynamo remained in fifth place in the Eastern Conference following last weekend's results in Major League Soccer. They managed to only get a draw against the Montreal Impact in their game over the weekend, but some other results went their way, though several games mostly just served to shuffle teams ahead of them.

Either way, they ended up still rooted in the fifth and final playoff spot in the East. The most pressing concern was the Columbus Crew drawing against East-leading Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, which kept the Crew within spitting distance of the playoff picture. Columbus sits on 49 points, while the Dynamo have 50. Both teams have two games remaining, with Columbus facing a moderately easy schedule featuring a DeRo-less DC United and the lowly Toronto FC.

Houston's final two games will see them play the Philadelphia Union and the Colorado Rapids as they try to stay in playoff contention before the regular season ends so they can defend their status as 2011's Eastern Conference champions.

2012 MLS Standings: Houston clinging to fifth spot in East

After a bad run of form, the Houston Dynamo finally got a much needed 2-0 win on Saturday over the New England Revolution. The win allowed Houston to stay in the playoff picture for another week, but they're going to need to continue to get results like that in order to push themselves much farther into the discussion.

Houston is currently sitting on 49 points, good for fifth in the Eastern Conference. That's in the playoff picture, but only a point ahead of the Columbus Crew, who stayed right behind them with a 3-2 win over Philadelphia on Saturday. Houston has little hope of catching the surging Sporting KC, New York Red Bulls or Chicago Fire, but they are only two points behind DC United, who are still looking to stay up despite losing Dwayne De Rosario.

The schedule is fairly kind to Houston late on, with their final three games coming against mediocre teams. They'll play the Montreal Impact, Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids to close out 2012, with the first two coming at BBVA Compass Stadium.

2012 MLS Standings: Houston Drops To Fifth In East

A blow was dealt to the Houston Dynamo's playoff hopes on Sunday when they were beaten 3-1 by the Philadelphia Union. They helped the Union end an eight game winless streak and fell to fifth in the Eastern Conference.

Both the New York Red Bulls and DC United sit at 50 points, four ahead of the Dynamo's 46. Their playoff hopes are in jeopardy as they sit a single point ahead of the surging Columbus Crew in the standings -- both teams have played 30 games, though the Dynamo have a game in hand against the Montreal Impact, who are five points back of the Dynamo.

Houston has four games remaining: they will face the New England Revolution, Montreal Impact, Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids before the playoffs begin.

For more on the Dynamo be sure to visit Dynamo Theory, and for more MLS coverage head over to SB Nation's dedicated soccer hub.

2012 MLS Standings: Houston Dynamo Sit In 4th Place In East

With a 1-1-1 record thus far in the month of September, the Houston Dynamo currently are stuck in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, with only five games remaining on their 2012 MLS regular season schedule.

The Dynamo thoroughly outplayed Sporting Kansas City in a pivotal game back on Sept. 14, but ended up leaving the field without a victory after a CJ Sapong header in stoppage time forced a 1-1 tie. Houston could have gained a significant amount of ground in the conference with a win, and now faces a slippery slope heading into the postseason if things can't be turned around.

Winners of just one of their last six MLS contests, the Dynamo will have a difficult week ahead, with a Champions League game preceding a regular season tilt with the Philadelphia Union on Sunday. After missing the disappointing result against Sporting KC on dual suspensions, both manager Dominic Kinnear and midfielder Calen Carr will each return for Houston this week.

For more on the Dynamo be sure to visit Dynamo Theory, and for more MLS coverage head over to SB Nation's dedicated soccer hub.

2012 MLS Standings: Houston Dynamo Climb To Third

The Houston Dynamo continued their climb in the Eastern Conference standings this week, as the Dynamo now sit in third place.

After defeating Real Salt Lake 1-0, the Dynamo moved up one spot in the standings, and are now one point ahead of the Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference.

It's certainly worth noting, however, that the Fire have played two fewer games than the Dynamo have, and will have a chance to leap past Houston once those games are played.

For the time being, however, Houston sits alone in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. Houston currently trails Sporting Kansas City by five points, and the New York Red Bulls by one point. Houston has played one more game than New York as well, so the Red Bulls could give themselves some breathing room with the extra game remaining.

You can check out the entire standings here, at Major League Soccer's official website.

For the latest on the Houston Dynamo, check out Dynamo Theory.

2012 MLS Standings: Houston Dynamo In Fourth Place

BBVA Compass Stadium might be home to playoff soccer later this year.

The Houston Dynamo currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, despite losing their most recent match on Sunday, 3-1, to the Chicago Fire.

With the win, Chicago jumped over Houston in the standings, as the Dynamo move backward into fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Still, Houston is in excellent position to make the playoffs.

The Dynamo (42 points) currently trail Sporting Kansas City (50 points), the New York Red Bulls (46 points), and the Chicago Fire (44 points). Houston is tied with the Columbus Crew for fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and they lead D.C. United (41 points) by just one point.

A full view of the standings can be found here, at Major League Soccer's official website.

Houston's next match will come on Thursday against Real Salt Lake.

For the the latest on the Dynamo, check out Dynamo Theory and join the discussion.

2012 MLS Standings: Dynamo Stay Close In Third Place

With only eight games left in the 2012 MLS season the Houston Dynamo are still in the hunt for the playoffs as well as qualification for the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League. The Dynamo (11-6-9) are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference with 42 points after draws in their last two games. They trail the New York Red Bulls by two points and Sporting KC by four points.

Sporting KC and New York played each other Sunday evening, however.

In terms of this year's CONCACAF Champions League Houston is tied for first place in its group after beating El Salvadorian club Club Deportivo Futbolistas Asociados Santanecos in its only game so far. The Dynamo are tied with Honduran club Olympia with three points each, and the two will meet for the first time on Thursday in Tegucigalpa. The winner of each group of three advances to the knockout rounds.

For more on the Houston Dynamo, visit Dynamo Theory.

2012 MLS Standings: Houston Falls To Third In Eastern Conference

A loss to New York left the Houston Dynamo in third place in the Eastern Conference after last week's results.