The Houston Dynamo look to get back on the winning track when they host defending Western Conference champion St. Louis City on Saturday in a crucial conference matchup.
Houston (4-4-1, 13 points) heads home after a 2-0 loss at FC Dallas on April 27 in which the Dynamo produced just two shots, neither of which were on target.
It was the second straight setback and third in the past four games for Houston, whose chances to win were compromised early in the loss to Dallas when Griffin Dorsey was assessed a red card for a dangerous foul in the fifth minute.
“The guys gave everything — it’s hard to play that long down a man against any team in this league,” Houston coach Ben Olsen said. We held, we bent and we had maybe one or two chances, but it is what it is. You’re gonna have a game like this in a season where you get a red card and things don’t go your way. So maybe we’ll get it out of the way.”
Houston has allowed just 10 goals this season, tied for the second fewest in MLS. The Dynamo leads the West with 59.5 percent possession across the season, allowing strategy that allows them to control matches and dictate pace of play.
Ibrahim Aliyu’s three tallies lead Houston and midfielder Jose Artur de Lima Junior paces the team in assists with three.
St. Louis City (2-1-6, 12 points) head south after a bye week, with its most recent outing a 3-3 draw at Sporting Kansas City on April 20. Tomas Totland’s first goal with the club produced the tying tally in stoppage time, allowing St. Louis to split the points.
“The last goal was a lot of relief more than joy,” Totland said after the match. “Coming back 3-3, it felt like the game was going away from us. But we showed again that we don’t give up, and we’ll take the one point back.”
Joao Klauss and Celio Pompeu had St. Louis’ other goals and lead the team with three goals each this season.
St. Louis has five draws, two wins and a loss its past eight outings. It has found the net nine times this season in its four road games.
St. Louis had a win and a draw against the Dynamo last season in its inaugural campaign.
–Field Level Media
