Dynamo look to clinch playoff berth with win in Montreal: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo are back on the road again for yet another mid-week match up. This time, the Dynamo are north of the border in Canada to take on CF Montreal. Houston drew 0-0 on Saturday against FC Dallas at Shell Energy Stadium. Montreal were beaten 3-0 in Orlando on Saturday and have not won in their last six matches.
When: Wednesday, October 4 | 6:39 PM CT kickoff
Where: Stade Saputo; Montreal, Quebec, Canada
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: ESPN 97.5 FM (English), TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Spanish)
Herrera suspended
Houston will play without their captain tonight, after Hector Herrera picked up a yellow card against Dallas and earned a suspension for accumulation. Herrera could probably use a rest, and he’ll be forced into one tonight. The Dynamo captain has been one of the best players in MLS this year and it’s impossible what he brings to the team. "Very few teams have the luxury to replace a player that is that important to the team,” head coach Ben Olsen said Tuesday. “We put other guys in that maybe have different qualities. Maybe we have to go about the game in a different way. However, we still have a lot of depth and we've played without him before for one or two games. There have also been times that he's come out of the game, and we've had some different looks. The good news is we have a lot of players that have earned minutes this season and feel comfortable. They are chomping at the bit to get onto the field right now to prove that they belong in that starting group. That's a healthy thing. We've been able to use a lot of players throughout the season, both trusting them and also as a necessity. Sometimes it's just the next man up. We feel comfortable with guys coming in, but we don't have a like-for-like player for Héctor (Herrera)." Who replaces Herrera is yet to be seen but the Dynamo will be well prepared for his absence.
Win and in
Everyone knows by now that the Dynamo haven’t played in the MLS playoffs since 2017. That could all change tonight. Houston can punch their ticket into the postseason by winning tonight in Montreal. The Dynamo can also clinch a spot in the playoffs with a draw and a FC Dallas loss to the Colorado Rapids or a draw and a Minnesota United draw or loss at LAFC. After winning the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup last Wednesday, the Dynamo could make it two straight memorable midweek matches.
Winging it
Montreal head coach Hernan Losada is known for his wingback tactics which he also used at D.C. United. The home side will look to get down the wings with the Canadian duo of Mathieu Choiniere and Zachary Brault-Guillard. Romell Quioto and Bryce Duke will likely lead the attack for a team that has struggled to find goals this season, scoring just 30 in 31 regular season matches. How the Dynamo approach this match, and how they replace Herrera will say a lot in their intentions. A point should and could be enough to make the playoffs tonight, but a win would help in the seeding. Montreal is struggling and has gone through stretches of not scoring, but their formation and tactics could throw a wrench into what the Dynamo do.
Availability Report
Houston Dynamo – Out: Ifunanyachi Achara (knee), Tate Schmitt (knee), Hector Herrera (yellow card accumulation); Questionable: Amine Bassi (lower body)
CF Montreal – Out: Aaron Herrera (ankle), Robert Thorkelsson (adductor), Gabriele Corbo (yellow card accumulation); Questionable: Jules-Anthony Vilsaint (ankle, illness)
Predicted Lineup
