Must-Win Mentality: Dynamo Visit Austin FC
(image via Aldo Canale)
The Houston Dynamo return to MLS play tonight with a trip to the state capital to take on Austin FC. The Dynamo will be looking to put their Leagues Cup performance behind them after they lost all three matches in the tournament and finished bottom of the MLS side of the table. Austin did not play in Leagues Cup.
When: Saturday, August 9 | 7:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: Q2 Stadium; Austin, Texas
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: TUDN Deportes 93.3 FM
Back to League Play
Leagues Cup was a disaster, to put things bluntly. The Dynamo played all three games at home and lost them all. After the opening loss to Tigres, they rotated the lineup and used the final games to get players minutes. Now they should be rested and ready to go ahead of a crucial stretch run toward a potential playoff berth. Houston currently sits in 11th place in the Western Conference, three points behind 9th place Colorado. With just 10 games left, we’ve reached the point in the season where three points is almost a must.
Here We Goal Again
It feels like we’ve had a similar refrain at often times over the last couple of seasons but, where are the goals? The Dynamo scored just twice in Leagues Cup and over their last six matches in all competitions have scored just one non-penalty goal. So how does Houston find their offense? First and foremost, they have to get DP striker Ezequiel Ponce going, and they have to get him service. Whatever lineup Ben Olsen puts out tonight, it should be with offense in mind. Whether that involves multiple 10s or even another striker alongside Ponce, something has to be done to get the goals flowing.
Austin on the Up
On the other side of tonight’s match, Austin comes into this contest in 7th place in the Western Conference with two straight wins and unbeaten in their last four. Brandon Vazquez was lost for the season to injury but Myrto Uzuni looks to be coming into his own and showing why he was a marquee signing last offseason. Austin got four goals from four different players in their last league match, a 4-2 win over D.C. United. They could deal a big blow to their in-state rivals playoff chances with a win tonight and you can bet they will be looking to do exactly that.
Houston Dynamo FC – Out: Franco Escobar (suspension), Nelson Quinones (knee), Andrew Tarbell (knee); Questionable: Ezequiel Ponce (lower body), Gabe Segal (lower body), Erik Sviatchenko (lower body)
Austin FC – Out: Brandon Vazquez (knee)
Predicted Lineup
