Dynamo return home to host MLS Cup champion LAFC: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo are finally back at home after playing three straight road games over a seven day stretch. The Dynamo lost both league matches but advanced to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semifinals with a 4-1 win over the Chicago Fire on Tuesday night. Reigning MLS Cup champion LAFC come to town to take on the Dynamo, fresh off a loss in the Concacaf Champions League final to Leon last weekend. LAFC returned to league play on Wednesday, drawing 0-0 with Atlanta United despite dominating the match. Assistant coach Brendan Burke will lead the Dynamo tonight with head coach Ben Olsen suspended for yellow card accumulation.
When: Saturday, June 10 | 7:39 PM CT kickoff
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV - Free
Radio: ESPN 97.5 FM (English), TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Spanish)
Home again
It feels like the Dynamo have been on the road forever, even though their last home match was just two weeks ago. Houston went on the road to Vancouver and St. Louis and got beaten soundly. The road trip was saved with a big 4-1 win over Chicago which also puts the Dynamo into the final four of the Open Cup. That match isn’t until late August so it’s time to shift attention to league play and getting points, especially at home. The Dynamo have five wins in seven league matches at Hell in the Shell. The one loss at home this season was to Seattle, another team at the top of the Western Conference, like LAFC. A win tonight, over arguably the best team in MLS, could go a long way.
LAFC times two
Tonight’s meeting with LAFC will be the first of two in the next five days for the Dynamo. Houston will travel to LA on Wednesday for a match that was rescheduled because of LAFC’s run in the Champions League. Playing a team two times in a row, especially in a short span, can be a challenge. We asked head coach Ben Olsen how it effects the team’s preparation, playing the same opponent back to back. “It does (have an impact on preparation) probably on the back end of the first one,” Olsen said. “But as far as prepping for them, it's not like you're thinking of this, especially that the games are stretched out enough. If they were back-to-back with only two days in between, maybe you would think about something. But really, we’ve had enough time to rest from the Open Cup game to get guys ready to roll again. Maybe we’ll change one or two for energy. We’re still evaluating what we have. So, we go after this one. Then after that, maybe because of what you just saw in the game itself, there are some tactical moves or personnel moves that you would do to kind of change things to make your team play in a different way. Again, you have to kind of go through the game and see how it goes and also understand after that they're going to maybe tweak some things to try and counter that. It gets a little bit more complicated after this game.”
Galacticos
Ok, so LAFC aren’t exactly on the level of the original Galacticos of Real Madrid (but they did have Gareth Bale last season). Even then, in MLS terms, LAFC have a squad of stars. Defender Giorgio Chiellini has been relegated to more of a bench role behind Denil Maldonado, Jesus Murillo, and Aaron Long. Up front is where LAFC’s real star power shines, led by former league MVP Carlos Vela. As good as Vela is, he’s not even the Black and Gold’s best forward anymore with Gabonese international Denis Bouanga taking the league by storm. Bouanga has 10 goals in 13 league matches and added 7 more in the Champions League. Kwadwo Opoku, Mateusz Bogusz, and Stipe Biuk give LAFC even more firepower up front with a crazy amount of depth. LAFC can attack from the wings or through the middle so look for Artur to sit deep in front of whoever the front four is to try and limit the number of attacks for the away side.
Availability Report
Houston Dynamo – Out: Ifunanyachi Achara (knee), Teenage Hadebe (leg), Tate Schmitt (knee)
LAFC – Out: Maxime Crepeau (leg)
Predicted Lineup
