Kinnear Time Delayed: Dynamo Coach Suspended

Is it Kinnear Time?

Not quite.

The league handed down several suspensions and fines after the Houston Dynamo and Montreal Impact clashed in the waning minutes of their Knockout Round game last night. One of the casualties? Dynamo Head Coach Dominic Kinnear.

For those who didn't see it, in the 89th minute Andres Romero went for the ball (or balls) under Kofi Sarkodie. That touched off some shoving. Eventually, Impact striker Marco Di Vaio attempted to take what looked like half the Dynamo squad all on his own.

For their roles in the skirmish, Di Vaio and Romero were fined for "violent conduct which endangered the safety of their respective opponents" and suspended two additional games above the normal one game red card suspensions. Additionally, Di Vaio earned himself an extra $1,000 fine and Romero and extra $250.

Kinnear was slapped with a suspension for leaving his technical area, an automatic one game suspension.

Also, somewhat minor (unless you love accounting): Both teams were slapped with a fine for mass confrontation, the Dynamo $5,000 and the Impact $25,000 (!) for repeat offenses. Impact Head Coach Marco Shallibaum was fined, too, for $2,500 related to mass confrontation.

How much tougher this makes Sunday's game for the Dynamo is up for discussion, but any advantage the Red Bulls can get, they'll take. If the Dynamo are going to figure the Red Bulls out -- they lost by an aggregate score of 9-1 in three games this season -- they'll do it at home, where they were unbeatable for stretches of 2012 and 2013.