Houston Dynamo Return Home Looking to Build Momentum Against Struggling San Diego
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo are back at Shell Energy Stadium tonight to host San Diego FC. Houston is coming off a 1-0 win in Orlando over the weekend. San Diego lost on Saturday night, 4-2 to Real Salt Lake.
When: Wednesday, April 22 | 7:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: Apple TV
Goals Galore
San Diego FC joined Major League Soccer last season and the Dynamo played them twice in what was an impressive inaugural season for the SoCal club. Houston won 4-3 in San Diego in July and then were officially eliminated from making the playoffs after losing 4-2 at Shell Energy Stadium in October. The away team won both matches with 13 goals scored between the two teams over both matches. Both teams have struggled defensively so far in 2026. The Dynamo have conceded 16 goals in 7 matches while San Diego have not kept a clean sheet after posting three straight to start the season. Add to that an improved Dynamo offense and San Diego averaging two goals a match this season, and we could be in for another high-scoring contest tonight.
More Rotation
Tonight’s match will be the fifth game of April for the Dynamo, with two more to come. Legs are no doubt starting to feel heavy and tired. Head coach Ben Olsen talked in his pre-match press conference about the need to rotate players, while also admitting that these guys are in great shape and can bounce back quickly. But, there is going to have to be some changes to keep everyone fresh. Hector Herrera, who scored the match-winning goal Saturday, has played in two straight matches and after turning 36 years old on Sunday will likely need a break. Ondrej Lingr and Nick Markanich had impressive outings in the USOC match last week and didn’t play over the weekend so we will likely see them tonight. It will be interesting to see what this lineup looks like as the Dynamo try for three more points while keeping an eye on two more games in the next week.
Sophomore Slump
San Diego shocked all of Major League Soccer in their expansion season last year by finishing the regular season atop the Western Conference. Now in year two, they’re finding things much harder to come by. After starting the season by knocking Pumas out of the Concacaf Champions Cup and posting three consecutive clean sheet wins in league play, San Diego is winless in their last six in all competitions and were knocked out of the CCC by Toluca. They’ve lost their last three matches, conceding nine goals in that span. San Diego will have some confidence of winning at Shell Energy Stadium last season but more improtantly, they’re going to want to get their season back on track.
Houston Dynamo FC – Out: Lucas Halter (lower body); Questionable: Jack McGlynn (lower body)
San Diego FC – Out: Luca Bombino (lower body), Wilson Eisner (lower body), Willy Kumado (lower body), Andres Reyes (lower body), Pablo Sisniega (lower back); Questionable: Alejandro Alvarado Jr. (lower body), Ian Pilcher (lower body), Kieran Sargeant (lower body), Pedro Soma (lower body)
Predicted Lineup
