Dynamo renew LigaMX rivalry with match against Santos Laguna: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo are back home at Shell Energy Stadium tonight to take part in international competition for the first time since 2019. This will be the fourth meeting between the Dynamo and Santos Laguna. Houston is coming off a 1-1 draw, and subsequent penalty shootout loss, on Friday against Orlando City in their Leagues Cup opener. Santos have yet to play a Leagues Cup match. They last played on July 13, a 0-0 draw against Atlas in LigaMX play.
When: Tuesday, July 25 | 7:30 PM CT kickoff
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, FS1, UniMas
Radio: ESPN 97.5 FM (English), TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Spanish)
Rivalry renewed
It’s been a while since the Dynamo got to take on Mexican opposition. Back in the days of SuperLiga and Champions League appearances, it seemed to be a regular occurence. The USA-Mexico soccer rivalry has changed quite a bit since then and the Leagues Cup will only help continue to grow the feud. Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen knows what matches between the two countries can be, having been a part of them as a player, but he also knows the respect the teams have for each other. “I've been in some nasty ones, and I've been in some where there's been a high level of respect and just some really good soccer and entertaining matches,” Olsen said Monday. “I don't think there's any ill will in some ways like there maybe was back when I was young playing in some of these CONCACAF tournaments or when the U.S. played Mexico. It always seemed like the blood was boiling more back then than now because of how transitory everything is. Guys are there and here, and they know each other. There’s also more of a respect from Liga MX to MLS and what we've done and where this league has grown to. With that respect comes maybe less of that.”
Playoff atmosphere
With just two games in the Leagues Cup group stage, every point is important. After picking up one point in their first match, the Dynamo know three points tonight will all but see them through to the next round. Santos and Orlando still have to play on Saturday but a win tonight would mean Santos could only get to a maximum of three points, less than the four the Dynamo would have. There’s pressure that this Dynamo team hasn’t had to face yet, a big match to advance in a knockout competition, at home in what could be a hostile crowd. Midfielder Coco Carrasquilla knows the pressure, having just helped Panama to a Gold Cup final, and he knows it’s something the Dynamo have to embrace. “In the end, you have to take advantage of it, play this game in the best way and measure what level we are at,” Carrasquilla told the media in the pre-match press conference. “Let's see if we are really ready, if tomorrow were a playoff, let's see how we would react. It's going to be a well-contested match, where it's going to be decided in how each team tackles the small details. We're very motivated and we want those three points as well.”
Warriors in town
Santos Laguna, also known as Los Guerreros, come to town for the first of their two Leagues Cup matches in the United States. Santos are currently 10th in the LigaMX table after just three games with a win, loss, and draw. They finished 13th in last season’s Clausura. On paper, this looks to be a team the Dynamo can compete with and beat. Houston got a bit of luck not drawing any of the big clubs in Mexico in this round, but Santos are no push-over. “A very good team with some great individuals,” Olsen said yesterday when asked about Santos. “Super athletic, dangerous on set pieces, a high-level 10, a number nine that can score goals and is athletic and is a real handful, some good wide backs and overlapping outside and some real improv to their game and some really clever players. So, this will be a very tough task for us, but we feel good about it.”
Availability Report
Houston Dynamo - report not available
Santos Laguna – report not available
Predicted Lineup
