Dynamo host West leaders St. Louis CITY SC: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo are back in league action tonight after a two-week international window to take on St. Louis CITY SC at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston last played on September 2, a 0-0 draw on the road against the LA Galaxy. St. Louis played the Galaxy on Sunday, drawing 2-2.
When: Saturday, September 16 | 7:39 PM CT kickoff
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: ESPN 97.5 FM (English), TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Spanish)
They meet again
The Dynamo played St. Louis earlier this season, on June 3. The Dynamo traveled cross-country after a midweek loss in Vancouver and were beaten 3-0 in St. Louis. Now, Houston has a chance at revenge against the Western Conference leaders. The Dynamo will look to take what they learned in that game to turn the tables now in Houston. “It was a very physical game with high energy,” head coach Ben Olsen said this week. “They come out fast, and we have to be prepared to play quick. Then they bring a lot of numbers to the ball, and if you can get down to the other side, you're usually in good shape. So, there are tweaks that we'll do, but we’ll continue to be who we are. They are certainly a little different than some teams, and it was good that we saw them earlier in the year. We certainly remember that game, and we’ll look back on it. But they've also adapted, and they've got some different personnel coming in now. They’ve got some different pieces, so we're both different teams.”
Getting the gang back together
Midfielders Hector Herrera and Coco Carrasquilla spent the international break with their national teams, but the two starters are back in the fold, ready to put their orange jerseys back on. The rest of the Dynamo were able to rest for two weeks, something St. Louis couldn’t do, as they played last Sunday. The Dynamo are also returning to their fortress known as Shell Energy Stadium, a place that has proven to be tough on even the best teams in MLS. With Teenage Hadebe off the injury report, and a deep roster at Olsen’s disposal, this will be a clash the Dynamo are well prepared for. “We're at home. We like being at home, and we got our group back (Thursday) with (MF) Héctor (Herrera) and (MF Adalberto) Coco (Carrasquilla) joining the team,” Olsen said in his press conference. “It’s nice to get the gang back together, and we are just looking forward to the match. We’ve been preparing for them for the last few days, and we’re hoping to come out of this break with the right rhythm and mentality because it's a very important stretch for every team, and that's certainly including us.”
Taming the press
St. Louis have soared to first place in the conference this season, their first in MLS, with a very distinct style of play. The expansion side has a very disciplined press, one similar to what the New York Red Bulls have done for years. What makes St. Louis so good is the fact they are good in all phases. They’re the definition of a team being greater than the sum of its parts. “We anticipate a very good team,” Olsen said about preparations for St. Louis. “They are the best in the Western Conference. Sometimes teams get off to a good start and it's not sustainable. They've shown their class with the ball, without the ball and in transition. They are a team that is physical and understands who they are. So, it will be a very tough test for us.”
Availability Report
Houston Dynamo – Out: Ifunanyachi Achara (knee), Tate Schmitt (knee)
St. Louis CITY SC – Out: Sam Adeniran (suspension); Questionable: Rasmus Alm (groin)
Predicted Lineup
