Dynamo look for third staright win with Earthquakes in town: What to watch for
(image via Aldo Canale)
The Houston Dynamo will look for their third straight win as they host the San Jose Earthquakes at Shell Energy Stadium tonight. Houston scored late in stoppage time to beat the Colorado Rapids 1-0 last Saturday night. San Jose is coming off their first win of the season, beating the Seattle Sounders 3-2 this past weekend.
When: Saturday, March 30 | 7:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Spanish)
Good problems to have
It’s been a rough start to 2024 for the Dynamo in terms of health. Captain Hector Herrera is still out and winger Nelson Quinones won’t play this season, but the roster seems to be getting healthier at the right time. Sebas Ferreira is back from his hamstring injury and provided the match-winning assist to Brad Smith last week. Ben Olsen’s two subs provided three points last week but now they make his lineup decisions tougher. With Ferreira back, you would expect to see him in the starting lineup, meaning Gabe Segal will go to the bench. Smith provides a good spark off the bench but does he deserve a start, especially with Amine Bassi still struggling for fitness. Coco Carrasquilla will also be back this week after missing the Colorado match while with Panama for the Nations League. It’s a good problem for Olsen to have as he tries to put the puzzle together of a lineup capable of beating San Jose.
Seback?
Houston has continued to struggle scoring goals, picking up one last week on an Aliyu Ibrahim tally after a mistake by the Portland defense. Help could be on the way as Sebastian Ferreria looks ready to return to action after injuring his hamstring in the first Champions Cup game against St. Louis. The Dynamo could desperately use the Ferreira of 2022 who burst on the scene in MLS with double-digit goals in his first season in orange. Sebas may not be ready to start just yet but he could come in off the bench and provide a second half spark. If Ferreira is healthy, bought in, and in good form as Ben Olsen has said he was this preseason, his addition back into the lineup should be a huge boost for the Dynamo.
Rumbling into Houston
San Jose isn’t a full blown earthquake just yet in 2024 but they come into Houston tonight with a bit of a rumble. After losing their first four matches this season, the Earthquakes picked up their firsy points of the season with a 3-2 win over Seattle last Saturday. They’ll come into Shell Energy Stadium this evening looking to ride that momentum. Olsen spoke in his Friday press conference about San Jose being a team with players that can hurt you vertically. Cristian Espinoza and Jeremy Ebobisse are threats any time they get the ball and whill have to be handled. It will be another tough challenge for the Dynamo defense who, even without Erik Sviatchenko, were able to post a clean sheet in Colorado.
Houston Dynamo – Out: Hector Herrera (knee), Nelson Quinones (knee); Questionable: Erik Sviatchenko (hamstring), Amine Bassi (hamstring)
San Jose Earthquakes – Out: Daniel (lower body), JT Marcinkowski (knee), Jack Skahan (lower body); Questionable: Carlos Akapo (foot), Amahl Pellegrino (lower body), Jackson Yueill (lower body)
Predicted Lineup
