Do-or-Die Stretch Begins for Dynamo in St. Louis
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo have reached a point of no return this season, it’s not a must-win yet but if they want any shot at making the playoffs they need to start collecting as many points as possible. It starts tonight in Missouri with a match against CITY SC. Last weekend, Houston were beaten 2-1 at home by the San Jose Earthquakes, dealing a big blow to their already shaky playoff chances. St. Louis is coming off a 3-2 loss to Vancouver in their last match.
When: Saturday, August 30 | 7:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: Energizer Park; St. Louis, Missouri
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: TUDN Deportes 93.3 FM
Back in the Saddle
Saturday’s loss to San Jose was frustrating for so many reasons. Mainly, the Dynamo fell even further behind the Earthquakes and the playoff line. There really is no more margin for error. Houston has already beaten St. Louis earlier this year and has been a better road team in 2025. But, Houston has never won at CITY’s stadium, losing all three times they’ve vistited, across all competitions. There’s no time to dwell on any of that history, it’s put up or shut up time.
Erik’s Return
Head coach Ben Olsen said in his Friday pre-match press conference that center back Erik Sviatchenko has trained all this week. This is great news for the Dynamo, especially with Pablo Ortiz set to miss this game after suffering an injury against San Jose. Sviatchenko is not only the Houston’s best defender but also a veteran leader in the back. It’s unlikly he will be able to play a full match after being out of action for so long but jusy having him back on the field and around the team should be a huge boost for a team desperate for any positive momentum they can find.
St. Louis of Old
St. Louis CITY SC has struggled mightily this season. They fired their coach earlier this summer and currently sit 14th in the Western Conference. They’ve lost four of their last five matches in league play but have shown signs of improvement. Midfielder Eduard Lowen has returned to the lineup and his presence in the middle combined with his passing ability gives CITY a different dimension. Striker Joao Klauss is always a handful and has scored in two of this last three matches. This may seem like an easy win for the Dynamo but as we have seen in 2025, nothing is as it seems for Houston.
Houston Dynamo FC – Out: Nelson Quinones (knee), Andrew Tarbell (knee), Brooklyn Raines (suspension); Questionable: Franco Escobar (lower body), Gabe Segal (lower body), Erik Sviatchenko (lower body)
St. Louis CITY SC – None
Predicted Lineup
