Dynamo make rare visit to New York City
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo are in New York City for the first time since 2019 for a match at Yankee Stadium against New York City FC. The Dynamo are coming off a 3-3 draw in San Jose over the weekend. New York City picked up a 3-1 victory agains the Chicago Fire in their last match on Sunday.
When: Wednesday, May 28 | 6:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: Yankee Stadium; Bronx, New York
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: TUDN Deportes 93.3 FM
The Little Pitch
New York City may be the Big Apple but their MLS team plays on a little pitch. New York City is building a stadium but they still currently play their home games at Yankee Stadium, for the most part. The home of Major League Baseball’s Yankees wasn’t built for soccer, so the soccer configuration is much smaller than any other field the Dynamo will play on. Head coach Ben Olsen spoke about the smaller field and how it brings long throw-ins and set pieces much more into play. The Dynamo won’t play on another field like this one so it will be interesting to see how they do in this one-off match with a much tighter area to operate.
They Both Can’t Have the Ball
We talk at length about the Dynamo and their possession style of play. New York City is the same way, as a matter of fact, they have more touches and higher percentage of possession than Houston this season. Olsen spoke about how the Dynamo will have to win duels and scrap it out against this NYCFC team that will want to have the ball just as much as they do. Not having one of the best pressing forwards in the league in Ezequiel Ponce, who is suspended for this match because of yellow card accumulation, will definitely hurt the Dynamo’s ability to be physical up front. Whoever ends up winning the possession battle will probably take the three points in this match.
Magic Martinez
The Dynamo just had to deal with Josef Martinez over the weekend and now they shift their focus to Alonso. The Costa Rican striker has 8 goals for New York City FC this season and is dangerous every time he touches the ball. Along with Hannes Wolf and Julian Fernandez, the NYCFC attack can do damage. On defense, USMNT call-up Matt Freese has been great in goal for the last few seasons and is now getting national team recognition. Houston doesn’t get to see this team often but this will be another good test for the Dynamo, especially midweek between two matches against Western Conference opponents.
Houston Dynamo FC – Out: Lawrence Ennali (knee), Nelson Quiñones (knee), Daniel Steres (lower body), Erik Sviatchenko (lower body), Andrew Tarbell (knee), Ezequiel Ponce (yellow card accumulation); Questionable: Junior Urso (lower body)
New York City FC – Out: Jacob Arroyave (leg), Malachi Jones (leg), Kevin O’Toole (leg), Andres Perea (leg)
Predicted Lineup
