Questions at the Back, Pressure Up Top as Houston Dynamo Face Seattle Sounders
(image via Ricky Vega)
The Houston Dynamo return from the international break to host the Seattle Sounders at Shell Energy Stadium tonight. Houston lost their last match, 4-3 to FC Dallas on the road. Seattle drew 0-0 against Minnesota United in their last match.
When: Saturday, April 4 | 7:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: Apple TV
Radio: TUDN Deportes 102.9 FM (Spanish)
More Defensive Questions
It seems like this comes up every match but the Dynamo are once again facing questions about who will start in their back three. Lucas Halter remains sidelined with an injury and Erik Sviatchenko is suspended after being sent off in the Texas Derby two weeks ago. That leaves Houston’s only center back options as Felipe Andrade, Antonio Carlos, and rookie Agustin Resch. The first-year Argentine has played some minutes this season but is in line for his first start. Now if something happens to one of the center backs during the game….there’s no telling what the Dynamo will do.
Ponce Problem
While Designated Players Guilherme and Mateusz Bogusz have been lively this season, fellow DP Ezequiel Ponce has yet to score in 2026. In speaking with President of Soccer Pat Onstad this week he mentioned that they are concerned with Ponce’s form. Onstad even spoke about playing Nick Markanich and Ondrej Lingr or signing a new striker in the summer. Bottom line, Ponce has to start scoring goals. He’s paid a lot of money to find the back of the net. He’s got plenty of talent and weapons around him in this lineup so he’s running out of excuses, and time.
Sounders Slumber
You have to go back to 2021 for the last time the Houston Dynamo beat the Seattle Sounders. Houston has not won in the last ten meetings between the two teams, including the playoffs. The Sounders are a constant in Major League Soccer, always among the league’s best teams. Head coach Brian Schmetzer has another strong team this season and the Dynamo will have to be at their best to get a result, even at home. One thing that could be in Houston’s favor, Seattle will play Tigres in Concacaf Champions Cup play midweek, so they could rest some players tonight.
Houston Dynamo FC – Out: Artur (lower body), Lucas Halter (lower body), Nick Markanich (suspension), Erik Sviatchenko (supension); Questionable: Jack McGlynn (lower body)
Seattle Sounders FC – Out: Pedro de la Vega (knee), Yeimar Gomez Andrade (hamstring), Stuart Hawkins (quad), Kim Kee-hee (calf), Nikola Petkovic (knee), Ryan Sailor (knee)
Predicted Lineup
