Houston Dynamo Head to Minnesota Looking for a Spark
Major League Soccer returns from the international break and the Houston Dynamo pay a visit to The Land of 10,000 Lakes for a match up with Minnesota United. Both teams last played two weeks ago. The Dynamo suffered an embarrassing 2-0 defeat at home to Sporting Kansas City. Minnesota also lost their last match, falling to the Seattle Sounders.
When: Saturday, October 10 | 7:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: Allianz Field; Saint Paul, Minnesota
TV/Stream: Apple TV
No Replacing HH
Over the past few years, there has been one constant with the Houston Dynamo’s success, Hector Herrera. The Dynamo had there best seasons when Herrera was the focal point of their midfield and then missed the playoffs last season when HH moved to Toluca. This season, Herrera has again been a big part of the Houston lineup and the Dynamo have climbed the Western Conference. The veteran Mexican midfielder will miss tonight’s match after being sent off in the loss against KC. Who fills that gap in the lineup? Head coach Ben Olsen said on Friday that they don’t have a “Hector-like” replacement on the bench. The likely candidates to fill in are Diadie Samassekou and Agustin Bouzat. Whoever starts, they have big shoes to fill.
Ready or Not
New summer signing Lyle Foster made his debut off the bench against Kansas City and now has had the international break to rack up training time with the Dynamo to get comfortable and ready to contribute. Olsen said on Friday that has been great but nothing compares to minutes in an actual game. Foster should get that tonight as he should be in the starting lineup. Houston desperately need a spark at the number nine position, still without a goal there all season. Foster may not be fully integrated and ready to go but the Dynamo don’t have time to wait.
Losing Loons
Minnesota United have struggled mightily this season. The Loons have lost their last five matches and sit in 14th place in the Western Conference. The defense has been the culprit for this recent slide. Minnesota has conceded 17 goals in those five losses, allowing three or more goals in four of those matches. Playmaker Joaquin Pereyra is out with an injury and center back Jefferson Diaz is out with yellow card accumulation. Things seem to be stacked in favor for the Dynamo but, we saw what happened the last time Houston played a team at the bottom of the Western Conference table…
Houston Dynamo FC – Out: Hector Herrera (suspension), Jimmy Maurer (back); Questionable: Agustin Resch (lower body)
Minnesota United FC – Out: Jefferson Diaz (suspension), Joaquin Pereyra (lower extremity), Alec Smir (lower extremity), Peter Stroud (lower extremity)
Predicted Lineup
