Dynamo look to carry Champions Cup momentum into league play: What to watch for
(image via Aldo Canale)
After a home win Tuesday to advance in Champions Cup play, the Houston Dynamo will look to carry that momentum into league play at Shell Energy Stadium tonight as they take on the New York Red Bulls. Houston drew 1-1 in last Saturday’s MLS opener against Sporting Kansas City, and then beat St. Louis CITY SC 1-0 on Tuesday night in Champions Cup. New York opened their season last Sunday, drawing 0-0 on the road against Nashville SC.
When: Saturday, March 2 | 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)
Reinforcements
The Dynamo have struggled with injuries early this season and the sheer number of matches so far has not helped. Reinforcements look to slowly be on the way. Amine Bassi and Franco Escobar both made their 2024 debuts in Tuesday’s win. Escobar could go straight into the starting lineup tonight with Griffin Dorsey questionable after coming off injured Tuesday. Head coach Ben Olsen said Dorsey will be a game-time decision. Bassi could give Olsen a number of options as the Moroccan can slot into multiple positions. Olsen said yesterday that it’s a possibility Bassi plays along with Sebastian Kowalczyk. Whether Bassi or Escobar start or not, having them back available is a big boost for the Dynamo.
More matches
As if playing MLS, Champions Cup, and eventually Leagues Play wasn’t enough, the Dynamo were announced yesterday as one of eight Major League Soccer teams competing in this year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Dynamo will get to play as defending champions and will be the only MLS club playing in all of the American tournament. Dynamo GM Pat Onstad said on a media call yesterday that it was important the club be able to defend their title, citing the long spell of down years for the team. While Olsen was cognizant of the additional games his team will have to play, he was also excited to be back in the USOC, a tournament he has now won multiple times as a coach and as a player. Having the Dynamo defend their title is just right and while MLS and US Soccer have tainted a lot of the tournament and what it stands for, at least they got this right in letting the Dynamo play. Houston will have some time to wait for that though, as they won’t join until the third round in May.
The Red Bull Way
The New York Red Bulls play a very distinct style, arguably the most distinct in all of MLS. Adopted from their parent club RB Leipzig and the other Red Bull clubs around the world, New York plays a very demanding press. They aren’t on the ball much, inviting the opposition to have possession and then preying off of mistakes and giveaways. Luckily for the Dynamo, their opoonent on Tuesday, St. Louis, plays a very similar system. Houston should be prepared for the way New York will play. The one big difference between St. Louis and New York, Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg. The former Leipzig man made his MLS debut last week and he will be the man to pull the strings for RBNY tonight. The Dynamo will have to be aware of him at all times.
Houston Dynamo – Out: Sebastian Ferreira (hamstring), Hector Herrera (knee), Nelson Quinones (knee); Questionable: Griffin Dorsey (lower leg), Franco Escobar (leg)
New York Red Bulls – Out: Ryan Meara (groin), Serge Ngoma (hamstring), Curtis Ofori (ankle); Questionable: Cory Burke (groin), Kyle Duncan (hamstring), John Tolkin (groin)
Predicted Lineup
