Dynamo open 2023 season in Cincinnati: What to watch for
(image via Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports)
The Houston Dynamo get the 2023 Major League Soccer season underway this evening in Ohio against Cincinnati FC. Houston comes into the new season with a new look coaching staff and roster, looking to build the club back toward a playoff caliber team. The Dynamo and Cincinnati have met twice before, a 3-2 FCC win in 2019 and a 1-1 draw in Houston in 2021.
When: Saturday, February 25 | 6:38 PM CT kickoff
Where: TQL Stadium; Cincinnati, Ohio
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: 97.5 FM (English), 93.3 FM (Spanish)
Another fresh start
Houston comes into the 2023 season looking to kickstart another attempt at a rebuild. New head coach Ben Olsen comes to the Dynamo with a decade of experience as the man in charge at D.C. United. The roster has turned over as well with new players such as Artur, Amine Bassi, Franco Escobar, and Tate Schmitt all likely to see action tonight. Not only have the Dynamo gone through a big change in the coaching staff and roster, but the club has undergone a number of changes in the front office as well as having big renovations done at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston has tried, and failed, to rebuild in recent years. Signs point to this being the one that sticks but tonight is the first step to see another “new-look Dynamo.”
Visa issues
The one problem with having a lot of new players, especially international ones, is that the Dynamo are now dealing with a number of visa issues as the season begins. Forward Ifunanyachi Achara and defender Djevencio van der Kust are still not in the United States and will not be available tonight. Midfielders Coco Carrasquilla, and Hector Herrera, forwards Sebas Ferreira and Thor Ulfarsson, and defender Teenage Hadebe were all listed as questionable on this week’s availability report because of visa issues. Last night was the roster deadline for MLS teams where players had to be declared as domestic or international. We don’t know for sure, but hopefully the Dynamo have all their international spots figured out and everyone is good to tonight in Cincinnati.
Powerful Cincinnati Attack
FC Cincinnati came in to MLS and was the worst team in the league for some time. That time has long passed as they are now one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference and the whole league. They are led by an attack that is arguably the best in Major League Soccer. Striker Brandon Vazquez recently made his debut for the US Men’s National Team and is coming off a season where he had 18 goals and 8 assists. His strike partner, Brenner, also bagged 18 goals last season to go along with 6 assists. The man that makes them go is Argentine playmaker Luciano Acosta. The MLS veteran put up a remarkable 10 goals and 19 assists in 2022. The Dynamo defense will have their hands’ full with this talented trio. Shutting down the Cincinnati attack will go a long way in determining if Houston can leave TQL Stadium with points tonight.
Availability Report
Houston Dynamo - Out: Brad Smith (left knee), Ifunanyachi Achara (pending documentation), Djevencio van der Kust (pending documentation); Questionable: Amine Bassi (lower extremity), Adalberto Carrasquilla (pending documentation), Franco Escobar (lower extremity), Griffin Dorsey (lower extremity), Sebas Ferreira (pending documentation), Teenage Hadebe (pending documentation), Hector Herrera (pending documentation), Thor Ulfarsson (pending documentation)
FC Cincinnati – Questionable: Alec Kann (leg)
Predicted Lineup
