Short-handed Dynamo look for road points in Minnesota: What to watch for
(image courtesy of Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo are back on the road tonight with a visit to take on Minnesota United. The Dynamo are coming off a 1-0 loss on Saturday against the Seattle Sounders. Minnesota lost 3-0 to Sporting Kansas City in their last match on Saturday. These two teams will meet again on Tuesday in Houston in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Round of 16.
When: Wednesday, May 17 | 7:39 PM CT kickoff
Where: Allianz Field; St. Paul, Minnesota
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV - Free
Radio: 97.5 FM (English), 93.3 FM (Spanish)
Back on the road
After three straight matches at Shell Energy Stadium, the Dynamo are back on the road for two games in four days. The first stop is tonight in Minnesota. Houston came agonizingly close to getting their first road win of the MLS season when they conceded late and drew with the New York Red Bulls. The Dynamo did win away from home in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup but they’re still searching for their first road victory in league play. Perhaps they have found the best place to do it. Minnesota have not won at home this season, as crazy as that is to believe.
Both Ben Olsen and Dynamo players spoke this week about the challenge that Minnesota presents. “Minnesota has always been a good team in this league,” forward Corey Baird said. “Very good defensive shape, they have attacking players who can hurt you and they’re dangerous on the counter. We’ve really got to be aware of those strengths and key players to make sure we’re not giving them a lot of freedom or space to attack us.” While this might be a great chance for Houston to get three points on the road, they will not be taking Minnesota lightly.
Discipline
The Dynamo lost to Seattle on Saturday after going down to 9 men and conceding late. Now they’ll be without Amine Bassi and Hector Herrera tonight through suspension after being sent off on the weekend. Counting last week’s Open Cup win, that’s now two straight games that Houston has not finished the game with eleven players. Head coach Ben Olsen wants his players to play with intensity but there needs to be a discipline that goes along with it. “We have to make sure we have 11 players on the field because the last time I checked, that’s the best way to win games,” Olsen said on Monday after training. “We have to be a little more disciplined in how we deal with the games but still play with the right edge. The danger of that is it sometime spills over. Keep that edge but right under it to make sure we have the right players on the field.
No Capi
As mentioned in the last point, Bassi and Herrera are out tonight and will need to be replace in the starting eleven. This will be the second game the Dynamo captain, Herrera, has missed for a red card. Bassi missed some time early in the year with an injury. Bassi could be replaced by Ibrahim Aliyu, who has yet to make a start since joining the Dynamo. Thor Ulfarsson or Sebastian Ferreira could also come in at center forward and move Baird to a wing. Luis Caicedo and Brooklyn Raines seem to be the most likely replacements for Herrera.
Whoever fills in, the Dynamo know they have the depth to compete. “We have a good team,” defender Franco Escobar said this week. “We have a good foundation with players like Amine (Bassi) and Héctor (Herrera), who are very important for the team and have to miss this game. We will see what group takes the field and try to do our best, play the best game possible to try to bring us the victory that we need to continue climbing the standings, to continue to have confidence. We want to have a spot toward the top of the table and secure a berth in the playoffs. That’s the goal.”
Availability Report
Houston Dynamo – Out: Ifunanyachi Achara (knee), Teenage Hadebe (leg), Tate Schmitt (knee), Hector Herrera (suspension), Amine Bassi (suspension); Questionable: Erik Sviatchenko (lower body)
Minnesota United FC – Out: Bakaye Dibassy (thigh), Ryen Jiba (knee), Mikael Marques (ankle)
Predicted Lineup
