Houston Dynamo Look to Stay on Top Against Surging St. Louis CITY SC
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo have ascended to the top of the Western Conference and now face another tough road test against St. Louis CITY SC. The Dynamo picked up their fifth straight shutout victory on Wednesday, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0. St. Louis drew 1-1 against Sporting Kansas City in their midweek match.
When: Saturday, August 22 | 7:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: Energizer Park; St. Louis, Missouri
TV/Stream: Apple TV
Top of the Table
Wednesday’s win in Vancouver but the Houston Dynamo back in first place in the Western Conference. They also tied a Major League Soccer record with five straight shutout wins. The Dynamo may have surprised some people over the past month but they have quickly shifted from hunter to the hunted. Houston is no longer a surprise to anyone. The whole league knows how good Guilherme is and how dangerous this team can be. Will things change now for the Dynamo as they are the team that everyone wants to beat? Time will tell but they will certainly enjoy this new role.
Dynamic Defensive Duo
Center back was a big question mark earlier this season for the Dynamo. But that question has been emphatically answered. Lucas Halter has come back from his early season injury and been everything fans hoped for when he was signed this winter. Alongside Halter, rookie Agustin Resch has developed from third round SuperDraft pick to rock-solid starter. Resch is drawing comparisons to Micael with how he burst onto the scene as a young player and become one of the better center backs around. Antonio Carlos is healthy again, but how do you take Halter or Resch out of the lineup?
Comeback in The Lou
St. Louis were down in the dumps of MLS last season but under new head coach Yoann Damet, CITY is currently on a club-record 11 match unbeaten run in all competitions and is up to 6th place in the Western Conference. DP attacker Marcel Hartel has left but St. Louis still has a number of dangerous attackers with the likes of Simon Becher, Eduard Lowen, and wingback Tomas Totland. St. Louis eliminated the Dynamo from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on penalty kicks earlier this year, so Houston will have a little extra motivation as they head back to Energizer Park.
Houston Dynamo FC – Out: Jimmy Maurer (head); Questionable: Felipe Andrade (lower body)
St. Louis CITY SC – Out: Christopher Durkin (suspension), Kyle Hiebert (hip), Brendan McSorley (ankle), Celio Pompeu (knee)
Predicted Lineup
